Eternal Flame Falls Guide
​For all the trips, treks, and other adventures we take, sometimes we forget about the things hiding near our homes, just around the corner, or in our backyard (literally, or figuratively, as I actually have no backyard). I live 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, and I’ve been there less than ten times in my entire life. While this trek is about waterfalls, it’s not about those famous ones on the Canada-USA border.
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Fire in the forest--maybe that doesn’t fill your mind with awe and wonder, but instead, panic. While naturally occurring (like those caused by lightning) forest fires can be healthy and spur new growth in an ecosystem, uncontrolled and unplanned ones generally wreak havoc. That’s not what this is about though: instead, it’s about a once-obscure waterfall in Orchard Park, New York’s Chestnut Ridge Park. There lies a waterfall tucked away in a forested ravine; not necessarily anything special, right? Except for the natural flame that flickers behind it.
When to Visit
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There really isn't a bad time to hike to the falls, as it's a short trail and each season gives you a different view. Just note that in winter, the falls will freeze, though the grotto containing the flame will stay free of ice due to its heat. The stream will usually freeze too, but it's still a good idea to wear high, waterproof boots just in case.
How to Get There
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The falls are found in Chestnut Ridge Park, which is in the town of Orchard Park, New York, a suburb of the city of Buffalo. While there's a variety of different hiking trails in the park, the Eternal Flame has grown in such popularity that a separate parking area and trailhead were established a number of years ago, making access even easier. It's about a 25 minute drive from Buffalo, and can be found on your GPS.
Follow the flame markers.
The Hike to Eternal Flame Falls
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Time: 1 - 2 hours.
Distance: 1.4 miles.
A personal suggestion: do this hike in the morning, not only avoid the crowds, but to experience it in the early golden hour when it’s most magical. The trail starts from the parking lot, and immediately leads you into the heart of the forest: trail markers with flames on them guide you the entire way, through the woods, then down a steep hill to Shale Creek at the bottom of the ravine. Turn left to stay on the trail, following the markers--though you might have to climb over (or under) a branch or two to avoid stepping in the water. At some point, you’ll need to cross, and a less-than-sturdy wooden beam is there if you don’t feel like splashing through the shallow creek bed.
The trail to the flame leads through the forest...
...and eventually follows the creek.
About Me
Hi there, I'm Dan: videographer, travel-addict, and beer-lover. I left corporate life behind to start my own video business and travel the world. Want to know more about me and Dan Treks?
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Through twisting tree branches, over glistening rocks, and beams of sunlight, the falls finally come into view around the last bend, hopefully with the flicker of the flame visible beneath them. A few steps uphill (and upstream) and you’re at the base of their base, the flame off to the right. If it’s rained recently, it may be tough to get close, and the rock can be slippery. If the flame is out, step carefully up the rock to reach in and relight it with the lighter you brought.
Natural gas leaking from the shale makes the flame possible.
It’s not the longest, or most treacherous hike in the world, but there’s something so curious and mesmerizing about finding a single flame in the forest, within a grotto tucked under a waterfall, no less. It really is special though, naturally-occurring seeps of gas, and flames like this one, are particularly rare. At some point, tectonic activity cracked the shale, releasing small amounts of trapped methane. The eternal flame itself isn’t the only spot where gas comes up, and when you start smelling it, you’ll know you’re getting close.
Take it in for as long as you want, and then begin the hike back. Or, follow one of the other trails into nearby Chestnut Ridge Park, if you’re up for another adventure. The point of the story is, you never know just what might be hiding in your own backyard...
Eternal Flame Falls Video Guide
Join me in this video guide, as I lead you into the forests of Western New York to a true wonder of nature: Eternal Flame Falls. Methane-rich shale produces a constantly burning flame, tucked in a small grotto behind a waterfall. No matter what season, this short trail is a wonder to hike, with an amazing reward waiting at the end.
Eternal Flame Falls Cinematic Video
See this rare gift of nature, and the hike to it in this cinematic video: explore the trail down to Eternal Flame Falls, in the warm colors of autumn, and in the wonderland that winter brings.
Visiting in winter provides a completely different setting.
