Five-Star Trails: Finger Lakes and Central New York

Auteur

Tim Starmer has always been an outdoor enthusiast and spent most of his childhood seeking out remote and wild areas whenever possible. During a brief hiatus from Brown University during 1997, he drove across the United States for six weeks, camping the entire way. Along the way he explored many of the West's national and state parks, including Canyonlands, Yellowstone, Arches, and Bryce Canyon. At the trip's conclusion, he headed down to Australia, where he backpacked for a few months exploring the eastern Outback, the Great Barrier Reef, and the caves of Tasmania, as well as traversing the Tasmanian World Heritage Area along the Overland Track. Tim currently works in upstate New York as a timber framer and can still be found exploring the wilds whenever possible.

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This guide will help you discover the sometimes subtle, sometimes dramatic landscape of New York's Finger Lakes region.

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Chimney Bluffs State Park

Scenery: 5 stars
Trail Condition: 4 stars
Children: 4 stars
Difficulty: 3 stars
Solitude: 4 stars

GPS Trailhead Coordinates:
(Main Parking Area) N43° 16.862' W76° 55.347'
(East Bay Road parking area) N43° 17.399' W76° 54.394'

Distance & Configuration: 2.5-mile shoreline loop; 2.5-mile out-and-back
Hiking Time: 1.5 hours
Highlights: Panoramic views, beachside stroll, geological features
Elevation: 250' at the trailhead, 383' at highest point along bluff
Access: Daily, sunrise-sunset; no fees or permits required
Maps: NY State Park map; nysparks.com/parks/43/maps.aspx; USGS Sodus Point
Facilities: Restrooms, picnic benches
Wheelchair Access: Yes in the picnic area, but not along the trail
Comments: Be careful around the trail edges along the bluffs. The area is actively eroding, and the ground near these edges may not be stable. Hikers have been injured in the past, so take caution along the rim. Dogs on a leash are allowed in the park but not recommended along the Bluff Trail due to unstable trail conditions along the rim.
Contacts: New York State Office of Parks, 315-947-5205, nysparks.com/parks/43

Overview
Central New York is not known for its beaches or its coastal trails. How could it be? The region is hundreds of miles inland. Yet hiking the Chimney Bluffs trail makes you feel as if you are along one of the coasts. While the open views along Lake Ontario are certainly beautiful, the main attraction here are the bluffs. Formed from eroding drumlins, they create a must-see picturesque panorama.

Route Details
Unlike many state park trails featured in this book, there is no entrance fee associated with this trail. The state acquired this park in 1963, and there were plans to develop it similar to other parks across the state; but these plans were put aside and the park was left undeveloped until 1999. At that time, restrooms, trails, picnic areas with grills, and parking lots were built. To find the trailhead from the parking area, head north along the paved walkway toward Lake Ontario. Continue past the picnic area, and you will see the Bluff Trail on your right as you approach the shoreline (approximately 0.25 mile from the parking area). You will begin heading east along a fairly broad trail, but as you delve deeper into the surrounding hardwoods, it dwindles to a narrow footpath. Blue diamonds mark the trail, but the way is pretty straightforward. The trail is mostly flat for the first 0.5 mile but soon begins to climb at approximately 0.6 mile in. The trail climbs 100 feet over the next 0.2 mile. Along the approach to the bluffs, occasional previews of the eroded drumlin ahead can be seen through the surrounding trees, but the truly breathtaking views don't begin until you reach the bluffs' rim a little shy of 1 mile into the hike. As the trail winds along the rim, be careful not to get too close to the edge, as steady erosion makes areas of this trail unstable. The chimneys/spires are spectacular and leave you wondering how they were formed and how long they will last. Drumlins are a common geological feature of Central New York and were formed during the last glacial period some 12,000 years ago. As the glaciers made their long retreat north, they scoured the landscape and left streamlined hills of glacial deposits in their wake. These hills, known as drumlins, indicate the direction of the receding glaciers and are the common feature that defines the gentle hills and rolling valleys surrounding Syracuse and Rochester. The drumlins along Lake Ontario have been eroded by wind and water for millennia. On the shores of Chimney Bluffs State Park, heavy deposits of clay have provided a sticky mortar between cobbles and stones that have resisted the slow process of erosion and left an ever-changing landscape that is a spectacle to behold. The current rate of erosion is estimated to be 15 feet per year, and the whole area is in a constant state of change. There are many vantage points where you can observe this geological wonder, so take your time and enjoy the view, but beware of the unstable edges along the rim. About 1 mile in, you intersect the Drumlin Trail on your right. You can use this trail, along with the East-West Trail, to provide a loop back to the parking area, but you will miss the pleasure of strolling along the shoreline at the bluffs' base. The Bluff Trail continues east and turns briefly northward, where a path off to the left offers a vantage point for looking back west at the bluffs. This side path weaves through some fairly unstable areas, so watch your step and stay away from the rim. Past this point, the trail begins to descend toward the East Bay Road parking area and temporarily away from the bluffs. The descent becomes fairly steep, especially as the parking area comes into view. The trail switches back northward as it descends on the parking area. I hardly need to tell you to head toward the beach at this point because the lapping waters of the lakeshore will beckon you ahead. Indeed, many visitors proceed directly to this parking area because it provides a more direct route to the bluffs' base and Lake Ontario's shoreline. Turn left and head west along the rocky shoreline. It doesn't take long before the chimneys and spires of the eroding drumlin tower above you. Lake Ontario spreads out across the northern horizon, and the unique setting of Chimney Bluffs really sets in. Few places in Central New York offer a similar experience, and that's why I recommend this loop over the other prescribed trails. Stick to the shoreline and do not attempt to climb the unstable bluffs. The base of the bluffs is approximately 0.5 mile long, and soon after you will be walking within feet of the trail you began on, approximately 2 miles total. The shoreline is constantly changing, and you will have to keep an eye out for a convenient way to climb back onto the trail. Once back at the picnic area, return to the parking area, for a total trip length of 2.5 miles.

Nearby Attractions
Several other short trails are within the park's boundaries, but I chose to focus on the most dramatic loop available. For reference, the East-West Trail and Drumlin Trail can be combined with the Bluff Trail to create a loop of similar length, though these additional sections do not offer views or the additional attraction of walking along the shoreline.

Directions
Approximately 9 miles east of Sodus and 5.25 miles west of the intersection of NY 89 and NY 104 near Wolcott, from NY 104, turn north onto CR 254/Lake Bluff Road. CR 254/Lake Bluff Road becomes Garner Road. Continue north along Garner Road, and stay right at the sharp turn east (right), at 5.5 miles. Shortly after this turn, the main parking area for Chimney Bluffs State Park will be on your left. To reach the East Bay Road parking area, continue 0.9 mile along Garner Road. Turn left onto East Bay Road. The parking …