Chimney Bluffs (Wayne)- Maps:
- New York State Atlas & Gazetteer (Delorme Mapping Company) page(s): 73
- Other Maps: AAA Finger Lakes Region Road Map; USGS (7.5') Sodus Point
- How to get there:
- From NY 104 about 2.5 miles east of Sodus Bay, turn left on
Lake Bluff Road. Alternatively, go north on NY 414 from I-90 at exit 41
until it ends at NY 104, and continue on Lake Bluff Road. Proceed north
for 2.8 miles, then turn right on Lummisville Road. Go East 0.8 mile,
then turn left on East Bay Road. After passing Slaght Road at 2 miles,
keep right at the next fork (East Bay Road). Go north for 1 mile to Lake
Ontario, keeping left at the next fork. There is a dirt parking lot on
the left.
- Description:
- Chimney Bluffs is an undeveloped state park, which the state
now preserves as a "natural" area, without amenities or fees. It
consists of a huge drumlin which is continually being eroded into high
spires,, pinnacles, cliffs, and ridges reminiscent of the Badlands.
Begin your hike by climbing down the steep bank to the narrow beach and
heading west (left). The beach is covered with cobbles eroded from the
drumlin. Within a few hundred feet, the first of nine ridges comes into
view; these rise above you as much as 150 feet, the first of nine ridges
comes into view; these rise above you as much as 150 feet. It is
possible to hike up the gullies between the ridges and spires for
different viewpoints, but be careful not to damage the fragile
landscape. The bluff extends more that 0.5 mile along the lake before
tapering into flat land. When the bluff is only 10-20 feet high, leave
the beach and climb up one of several paths to the footpath that runs
along the edge of the bluff and head east. The path is badly eroded in
spots, so one must sometimes find parallel trails back from the edge.
There are narrow projections on some of the hogbacks that provide
spectacular views of the formation. In the springtime, the wooded bluff
is an excellent places to see ferns and wild flowers, such as Trillium,
Solomon's Seal, Columbine, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Trout Lily, Hepatica,
Spring Beauty, Wood Betony, Ginger, etc. There is occasional poison ivy
along the margins of the woods. At the eastern edge of the bluff, the
path descend along the edge of the bluff here. Other attractions: There
is a large marsh along the east side of the road which has many birds.
One can canoe up to 10 miles in East Bay and its source streams. Lake
shores Wildlife Management Areas are nearby.
- Area Literature:
- No
- Nature Center at Site:
- No - this is a undeveloped area
- Area Administrator Information:
-
- Limits to Access:
- Beach is impassible in winter
- Type of Path:
- Dirt
- Types of Nature Study Activity:
- Wildflower and plant study, geology
- Natural Features:
- Forest, Glacial features
|
|