Thirty Mile Lighthouse and Chimney Bluffs State Park

The gorgeous Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse on Lake Ontario was one of the most lovely I’ve visited. Built in 1875, the lighthouse reflects Victorian architectural tastes and has many orate touches including cut limestone facing, cast iron stairs and railings, and copper roofing on the 70-foot tower. The keeper’s quarters are furnished in period style in a similar fashion to most other lighthouses I’ve visited and were not particularly exceptional, but the beauty of the tower interior was captivating – even just the exposed brick of the walls. From the lantern room at the top of the stairs, incredible views of the three-toned Lake Ontario waters could be seen, adding to the overall charm of Thirty Mile Light.

The next morning we made a stop for a hike at Chimney Bluffs State Park, which features glacially-compacted clay and rock bluffs along the coast of Lake Ontario. Referred to as drumlins, these long rounded hills are commonly found in the landscape of northern New York and usually not very noticeable since they are shrouded in forest or grass, but wave action along the shore has continually eroded the base of the exposed clay at Chimney Bluffs which prompts slumping that has accelerated their deterioration. With rain and snow runoff into the lake simultaneously deepening the ravines between the drumlins, they have transformed into angular fins that resemble chimneys from a distance.