Though it doesn’t always seem like it in the concrete jungle that is New York City, the state as a whole is home to stunning natural landmarks–from waterfalls and beaches to mountains and everything in between.
And if you hopped on a five hour road trip from NYC to Wolcott, New York (in the Finger Lakes region) you’d find Chimney Bluffs State Park, which is home to a pretty dramatic landscape you need to see to believe.
The landscape of Chimney Bluffs State Park, which is located along the south end of Lake Ontario, was formed by melting glaciers and harsh weather, leaving behind beautifully sculpted towering bluffs standing as tall as 150 feet above the crashing waves below.
NY Falls writes:
The bluffs were formed by a glacial drumlin, or pile of ground up mud, sand, and stones pushed along by the glacier as it scoured the land. Over time, Lake Ontario grew and began eroding away at the northern end of the drumlin, exposing the cliffs. Wind, rain, and snow melt-water continue to eat away at the cliffs, reshaping the Bluffs and providing us with a dynamic landscape that can be vastly different from year to year.
They also note that though drumlins are common for Western and Central NY, the fact that this one is sliced in half the way it is is rare. Out of three large bluffs in this region the Chimney Bluffs are the largest and the most accessible.
And though the park has become more developed in recent years, much of it remains untouched and natural.
Chimney Bluffs State Park is home to nearly four miles of short hiking trails around and through the bluffs, though the most popular trail is Bluff Trail which brings hikers to the edge of these thrilling cliffs. Hikers will also be treated to stunning views of the Great Lake along the way.
The park is open year-round from dawn until dusk and admission is $5 to park. It features restrooms, picnic tables, and grills and is a popular spot for hiking, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing.
📍 7700 Garner Road, Wolcott, NY
🚗 About 5 hours from NYC by car