Chimney Bluffs State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chimney Bluffs State Park |
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View of the bluffs from below in February 2009
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| Type | State park |
| Location | 7700 Garner Road Wolcott, New York |
| Nearest city | Wolcott, New York |
| Area | 597 acres (2.42 km2) |
| Created | 1963 |
| Operated by | New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation |
| Visitors | 117,811 (in 2014) |
| Open | All year |
| Website | Chimney Bluffs State Park |
Chimney Bluffs State Park is a cool place to visit in Huron, Wayne County, New York. It's a big park, about 597 acres (2.4 km²)! You can find it right on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, near Sodus Bay. The park is famous for its amazing clay cliffs and tall "chimneys" that stand right by the water. You can see these unique shapes from the hiking trails.
How the Bluffs Were Formed
The amazing bluffs you see at the park are made from something called drumlins. Drumlins are hills shaped like teardrops. They are made of glacial till, which is a mix of rock and dirt left behind by huge sheets of ice called glaciers.
These glaciers moved across the land during the last ice age, thousands of years ago. As they moved, they shaped the land and left these drumlins behind. Over time, wind, rain, snow, and waves from Lake Ontario have slowly worn away these hills. This process, called erosion, has carved the drumlins into the sharp peaks and tall cliffs we see today. Some of these cliffs are as tall as 150 feet (46 meters) above the lake! The bluffs are always changing because of this natural erosion.
Park History and Fun Things to Do
The Chimney Bluffs area has been a special landmark for a very long time. Long ago, people used this spot for different things. During a time called Prohibition, when certain goods were not allowed, people sometimes used this area to bring things in from Canada.
New York State bought the land in 1963. Before that, it was a private area where people could visit. For many years, the park was not fully developed. But in 1999, things changed! New features were added to make it better for visitors.
Today, Chimney Bluffs State Park has a parking lot and a building with heated restrooms. There are also picnic areas where you can have a meal with grills for cooking. The park has many hiking trails, perfect for exploring.
You can visit the park all year round. In the summer, it's great for hiking and picnicking. However, swimming is not allowed in the lake here. When winter comes, the park is still fun! You can go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing. There's even a special trail for snowmobiling.
The park has about 4 miles (6.4 km) of hiking trails. One popular trail is about 1 mile (1.6 km) long and runs right along the bluffs. From some spots in the park, you might even see the Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station, which is about 25 miles (40 km) away. You can also sometimes spot the tall smokestacks in Oswego.
Images for kids
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Terrain of Chimney Bluffs State Park, March 2016
