Chimney Bluffs State Park
Wolcott, NY
Chimney Bluffs State Park protects a stretch of Lake Ontario shore where waves have carved glacial drumlins into clay spires about 150 feet tall. A cobble beach runs along the base of the bluffs. Swimming is prohibited because of currents and sudden drop-offs, but the shoreline walk and the bluff-top trail are unforgettable.
One of the most dramatic shorelines on the Great Lakes, though swimming is off limits.
How we score beachesHike the bluff trail for the view of the spires from above, then walk the cobble beach for the view from below. Stay well back from the edge.
Lots at the park's east and west entrances.
The bluff trail is uneven with drop-offs; the beach is cobble.
The bluffs erode constantly, so keep back from the edge in every season. Fall color on the trail is a highlight.
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