Eternal Flame Falls New York: Visit This Mysterious Natural Fire

Eternal Flame Falls is a unique and mystifying waterfall in Chestnut Ridge Park within the town of Orchard Park, New York. This Erie County short hike and waterfall makes for a wonderful day trip from Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Toronto or any other towns and cities near Western New York.

Why is Eternal Flame Falls so special? Near the base of the waterfall, there is a tiny grotto that emits natural gas which produces a small flame when lit. When you visit, there will most likely be a little flame behind the waterfall. If for some reason the flame goes out, it can easily be reignited. I don't know about you, but I've never seen a waterfall with its own everlasting flame before!

Plan a day trip to Eternal Flame Falls if you're visiting Buffalo, Niagara Falls, or you've planned a cross-border getaway like we did. Add Eternal Flame Falls to a waterfall chasing itinerary in New York State, which could include amazing places like Watkins Glen State Park, Taughannock Falls, Robert H Treman State Park and more.

What is Eternal Flame Falls?

Eternal Flame Falls is a 30 foot high cascade waterfall that flows in two separate segments. The top tier is a more narrow cascade of eight feet, and the bottom section is a wider section of shale. At the heart of the waterfall, you'll find a four to eight inch "eternal flame", powered by the emission of natural gas.

But, why is natural gas seeping out from the shale? It's estimated that the seep at Eternal Flame Falls emits about one kilogram of methane daily. While scientists once believed that there are gas pockets that formed here due to the high temperatures of the old bedrock, they discovered that this isn't actually the case.

The rock beneath the waterfall isn't hot or old enough to create the gas pockets required to break down the carbon molecules in the shale that creates natural gas. There must be another reason why there is a continuous gas supply, but scientists still aren't entirely sure why it's happening.

There are hundreds of eternal flames in the world, but this one is pretty rare and interesting as it's located at a waterfall. I highly recommend that you come and see it for yourself.

There is one hiking trail at Shale Creek Preserve that you'll walk to reach Eternal Flame Falls. From the main parking lot, you'll walk down a forest path, surrounded by tall trees. There are small signs with a flame on them that guide you towards the waterfall.

You'll slowly descend towards the ravine. In August 2023, some major work was completed on the trail. The descent down to the creek now has a staircase with a hand railing for a safer journey. The climb down the ravine used to be quite treacherous, but not anymore.

Please stick to the designated trail and don't attempt to climb down the edge of the ravine. This helps protect the ecology of the area, and it will also keep you from seriously injuring yourself.

Once you reach the creek bed, hang a sharp left and walk alongside the creek itself until you reach the waterfall. Take care as you walk on slippery rocks; hiking poles could be beneficial here. Eternal Flame Falls is likely to be flowing throughout the late fall, winter and spring months, though it could dry up during the summertime.

The flame will most likely be flickering, although it can go out if high winds blow into the tiny cave where it's located. Bring a lighter just in case. The natural gas is always flowing, so you won't have any issues lighting the flame.

When Justin and I visited in the late fall, the waterfall was gently flowing and the flame was glowing brightly. The waterfall itself is beautiful in its own right, and it was made even more special with the mystifying orange flame alongside the falls.

How to Plan Your Visit

Eternal Flame Falls is located near the Canada-USA border and the closest city is Buffalo. It's really easy to locate the parking lot for Eternal Flame Falls. You can look up "Eternal Flame Hiking Trailhead Parking" on Google maps or follow my link to Google maps here.

It's 100% free to visit and free to park here. There aren't any restroom facilities. Here is a link to a map of the Eternal Flame Falls Trail. It takes about 20 minutes to hike to the waterfall from the parking lot, so I'd give yourself about an hour here in total.

It can get very muddy here after a rainfall or after the snow melts, especially in the spring and the fall. Wear sturdy hiking boots and pack your hiking poles. If you forget your hiking poles like I did, you may find a tree branch fashioned into a hiking stick at the park entrance. There were a few leaning up against the park's trail map, and I happily borrowed one during my trip.

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