Chimney Bluffs on Lake Ontario

The shore of Lake Ontario is just 25 miles from our campsite. So today we went exploring. On our state map we noticed a state park located on Lake Ontario, but included a notation that it was undeveloped. However, one of the brochures indicated that it was a great place to view the lake and the Chimney Bluffs. The brochure also mentioned trails so we went to take a look.

Apparently, the Chimney Bluffs, or more specifically the “drumlin” on which the bluffs originated, was a hill created by the movement of glacial ice dumping sand, clay, stone and whatever it picked up. There are thousands of the hills near Lake Ontario in New York. After the glacial ice melted the waves of Lake Ontario have beat against the hill eroding away the soil and the stones are left along the shore. Rain and wind have also played their part resulting in the “chimneys” along the bluff.

For an undeveloped park, we were very impressed. I expected to turn off the main road onto a gravel or dirt road into the park, then wade through knee high grass to the lake shore. Not so at this park. There was a nice sign welcoming visitors, a large paved parking lot, a very nice and very clean restroom facility, a kiosk with maps and information and that was just at the entrance. The grass had been mowed and there was a paved path leading to the picnic area which overlooked the lake. There are several trails in the park. We wanted to see the “chimney bluffs” so we took the trail leading above the bluffs. We could have walked along the shoreline for a view from down under. From the picnic area along the trail to the bluffs was about a mile hike.

We decided to return to the picnic area by way of two other trails which created a loop. That proved to be a mistake. Once we left the edge of the bluff we got into the habitat of some kind of viscous flies. They were about the size of ordinary house flies (not the huge black flies) and had wings that were slightly brown and translucent. There were hundreds of them. It was like we were being swarmed by tiny fighter jets in for the kill. We would swat at them with our hands, but they were undeterred. I could not get out of there fast enough. Along with the flies were the mosquitoes. Ah, the joys of the north woods. We’re getting head nets before our next hike.

Erosion of the Bluff

We had set out to find a vantage point to see the lake. This is a perfect spot, but unfortunately it was a very overcast day and the lake and sky seemed to blend together into a great big pool of gray nothingness. Enjoy the photos of the Chimney Bluffs. We’ll try to go back on a sunny day to get some pictures of the lake.