Chimney Bluffs State Park is a 597-acre (2.42 km2) state park in the town of Huron in Wayne County, New York. The park is situated on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, east of Sodus Bay. From the park’s hiking trails, visitors can view the large clay formations at the water’s edge for which the park is named.
The Chimney Bluffs area has been a landmark for many years. According to the pamphlet given by the park, smugglers used the area as a landing point while transporting liquor from Canada during Prohibition. The area was acquired by the state of New York in 1963 after having previously been operated informally as a privately owned recreation area.
It lay undeveloped until 1999 when a parking lot, service building with heated restrooms, picnic areas with grills, and hiking trails throughout the park were added. It is considered a year-round park for hiking and picnicking in the summer. Swimming is prohibited. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowshoeing; a trailhead for snowmobiling is also located within the park.
LOCATION: 7700 Garner Rd, Wolcott, NY 14590
LENGTH OF TRAIL: approx. 1 mile west-to-east
DIFFICULTY: advanced. Chimney Bluffs has experienced some erosion, and some of the paths that were along the edge are no longer usable; therefore, you have to forge a path through wooded areas. There are also a couple of steep hills on the bluff trail, particularly on the east side exit to East Bay Rd.
PASSPORT MARKER: approximately 7/8 of the way down the trail if you are traveling west-to-east. On your left, you will see a large sign warning to stay back from the edge; the marker is on the top of the right-hand post.
