Eternal Flame Falls — United States

About this spectacle

Eternal Flame Falls is a small but mesmerizing waterfall tucked within Shale Creek Preserve in Chestnut Ridge Park, western New York. Behind the cascade, a pocket of natural gas seeps through fractured shale and ignites, producing a flickering orange flame roughly the size of a candle flame. Visitors hike a short but sometimes muddy trail through a wooded gorge, crossing the stream to reach the grotto. The flame can go out during high water or heavy rain and must be re-lit, adding a note of unpredictability to the visit. In winter, ice formations encrust the rock face around the flame, creating a striking visual contrast of fire and ice. The sound of falling water and the earthy smell of the shale gorge deepen the sensory experience. The phenomenon is rare worldwide, making this otherwise modest waterfall genuinely extraordinary.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Oct — Mar

Getting there

Nearest airport: BUF. Nearest city: Buffalo.

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