Point Gratiot

Visited May 22, 2021

Point Drive & Route 5, Dunkirk, NY 14048

76 degrees Fahrenheit, sunny and cloudy, breezy

There are bathrooms at this park but most are closed in the off season. They were open today.

Leashed dogs are welcome on the trails. Please bring baggies and carry out your trash and any dog poo. There are many trash cans in this park but the wind from the lake means that often the trash does not stay in the trash cans.

No gnats or mosquitos troubled us today.

No cost to access the park, beach, or lots.

Parking for 50+ vehicles via the different lots. The parking area closest to the beach is not paved. The other lots are paved. I would budget at least two hours minimum if you want to walk along the water’s edge and walk along the bike trail. The walk along the beach and the walk along the bike trail are both around a mile stretch. Be aware that the drive through the park is one way so backtracking with the car is not possible.

This is a place where you can wear shorts because you have a beach and a paved bike trail for walking. Be aware that some of the bench areas along the bike path do have poison ivy growing on the ground between the bench and the bike path so if you are wearing open-toed shoes, you could expose yourself to poison ivy rash. If you walk the full length of the bike path, it will bring you to the entrance to the Dunkirk Lighthouse. This is a popular park so you will be sharing it with other people and dogs; even on gray, chilly days there are others enjoying the outdoors at this park.

Many people come to this beach because they enjoy hunting for sea glass. The smoothed stones are popular with crafters, artists, and collectors.

The park does host a few geocaches. Check out www.geocaching.com for more information.

Today I saw robins and seagulls. When the power plant was still active, there were a few winters where we would see 50+ bald eagles along this shoreline. We saw squirrels and chipmunks in the tree areas near the bike path. There are pines, maples, and other varieties of trees.

This park has a playground, tennis courts, a fenced field with bleachers that could be used for softball, numerous different-sized picnic pavilions, and picnic tables with grills nearby. Today, there were four different birthday parties at the various pavilions. The high schools use the park for a cross-country meet in the autumn. There is also a small stage for musical events near the main playground and bathroom building area. Before Covid-19, we accidentally visited the park one day when there was a car show.

For more information:

https://www.tourchautauqua.com/destinations/point-gratiot-park

For more information about the Dunkirk Lighthouse, its hours, and its special events:

https://www.dunkirklighthouse.com/

Nearby:

Down Route 5 is the Dunkirk Pier. There are signs there about more of the Lake Erie shipwrecks. There a few cute little shops next to the pier, as well.

https://www.tourchautauqua.com/destinations/city-pier-park-dunkirk-harbor

Also down Route 5 in the opposite direction from the Dunkirk Pier is Lake Erie State Park. Please see my write up of this lovely small state park on one of my other Chautauqua County pages on this website.

4/5/23 Update:

Pizza Village, 71 Lake Shore Drive West, Dunkirk, NY 14048

https://www.dunkirkpizzavillage.com/

tasty taco salad and polite service

View of Lake Erie from the first parking lot at Point Gratiot Park

The rock formation is worth an explore on a day that people with a dog off lead do not get there before you.

The Softball Field

The paved bike path that leads to the Dunkirk Light House

The Lighthouse is behind Wesley

Not sure if this is a shagbark hickory or some other cool shagbark tree.

Visited February 25, 2022

Point Drive & Route 5, Dunkirk, NY 14048

20 degrees Fahrenheit, gray and overcast with snow clouds, windy

There are bathrooms at this park but most are closed in the off season. I did not check to see if any were open today. Sorry, folks.

Leashed dogs are welcome at the park but not on the swimming section of beach which is not a problem this time of year; Wesley stayed home nice and warm while Melissa and I explored.

No gnats or mosquitos troubled us today.

No cost to access the park, beach, or lots.

Parking for 50+ vehicles via the different lots. The parking area closest to the beach is not paved. T

Did not see anyone while we were on the beach but we saw one walker entering the park as we were driving out. While it is tempting to climb out on the ice, it is very dangerous. A few years ago, someone fell through the ice. Some years, the formations become ice volcanoes and the water pushes up through the ice. We did not see any this year. The wind is always notable here and welcome on hot, steamy days in July; but it was frigid and blew right through the layers today.

Today we saw ducks floating out in the freezing water and two flying seagulls.

There are pines, maples, and other varieties of trees.