What brings people back to Eternal Flame Falls is how different it looks from one visit to the next. A wet spring week and a dry August afternoon can feel like two different places.
Geology and background
What makes Eternal Flame Falls special
The Eternal Flame Falls is a small waterfall in the Shale Creek Preserve, a section of Chestnut Ridge Park in western New York. The fall itself is modest, but it has something no other fall on this site has: a small grotto at the base of the waterfall that emits natural gas, which can be lit to produce a small flame. The flame is visible nearly year round, although it can be extinguished and must occasionally be re-lit.
The flame is the reason people come. A waterfall with a fire burning at its base is a strange sight, and the grotto behind the falling water is what makes this fall worth the walk. The fall is small, the flame is small, and the combination is what stays with you.
Its neighbours are spread out. Mattulke Falls is 6.1 miles away, Cromer’s Mill 6.6 miles away and Ensminger Falls 20.8 miles away, so Eternal Flame Falls is a drive-to destination in its own part of western New York rather than one stop on a waterfall trail.
Navigate by coordinates rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Best time and crowds
No stream gauge is linked to Eternal Flame Falls, so recent rain is your best guide. Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size. The flame burns nearly year round, but it can go out and need re-lighting, so there is no guarantee it will be lit on the day you visit.
Chestnut Ridge Park draws visitors year-round. Arrive early or late: the middle of a weekend is peak time, and the parking lots can be full by late morning.
Safety
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury. Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle. The grotto emits natural gas: do not linger with your face in it, and keep the flame small if you re-light it. Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
A bag to pack out trash
Practical tips
Look for the grotto at the base of the falls: that is where the flame burns.
Pair it with Mattulke Falls, 6.1 miles away.
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Go after rain, when the fall is running well and the grotto is at its best.
Waterfalls mark a change in the ground beneath a stream: a fault, a glacier-cut valley wall, or a band of hard rock the water cannot wear down as quickly as what lies below it.
Water flow and seasons
No stream gauge is linked to Eternal Flame Falls yet, so recent rain is your best guide. The weather panel on this page adds up the last three days of rain at the fall.
Expect the most water in spring and after heavy rain. In a dry spell, especially late summer and early fall, the same fall can look half the size.
The trail and the viewpoint
We do not have a trail length for Eternal Flame Falls yet. Some falls are a few steps from a parking area, others take a real hike, so check the park or a trail app before you set out.
Swimming is not listed. Treat the plunge pool as off-limits unless signs say otherwise: the water at the base is colder and stronger than it looks.
Facilities and amenities
We do not list a park for this fall, which often means a small trailhead or roadside pull-off with few or no facilities.
Plan as if there is no drinking water and no phone signal at the falls themselves. Use the restroom and fill your bottles before you start walking.
Fees, permits, and opening hours
No entry fee is listed. Parks may still charge for parking or day use, and federal lands often accept an annual pass instead.
Most falls are reachable from dawn to dusk. Gates, seasonal road closures and timed-entry permits are the usual surprises, so check the managing agency on the day.
How to get to Eternal Flame Falls
Eternal Flame Falls is in New York. For the last stretch, navigate by coordinates (42.70185, -78.75176) rather than by name. Map apps often send waterfall searches to the wrong parking lot or the far side of the stream.
The final approach is usually the hardest part: narrow roads, small trailhead lots that fill early, and a walk that can be ten minutes or several hours. Download an offline map before you lose signal.
Our New York waterfalls page maps every fall in the state, which helps when you are planning a route.
For the fullest flow, visit Eternal Flame Falls in spring or within a couple of days of heavy rain. For easier footing and warmer air, early summer is the compromise.
Light matters for photos: the base of a fall is often in shade by midday, and an overcast day evens out the bright water against dark rock.
Crowds and timing
Arrive early or late. The middle of a summer weekend is peak time almost everywhere, and small trailheads can be full by 10 a.m.
Holiday weekends and the first warm days of spring are the busiest of all. If the lot is full, do not park on the road shoulder: it is the most common reason for tickets and towing at trailheads.
How long to spend there
Without a listed trail length, plan for half a day: enough time to find the trailhead, walk in, spend an hour at the water and walk out without rushing.
If there are other falls nearby, they are often on the same road or trail system. Two or three in a day is very doable.
Where to stay near Eternal Flame Falls
We do not recommend specific places to stay. The links below search for hotels and campgrounds around Eternal Flame Falls on Google Maps, so you can compare drive times from the trailhead.
Stay on marked trails and behind railings. Wet, mossy rock near the brink is the most common cause of serious injury.
Never climb the cascade or stand at the top edge, even when the flow looks gentle.
Plunge pools hide cold water, strong currents and submerged logs. Only swim where it is allowed.
In canyons, rain upstream can raise the water in minutes. Leave if the water turns muddy or starts to rise.
Leave no trace: pack out trash, stay off fragile moss and plants, and keep drones grounded where they are banned.
What to bring
Shoes with real grip
A rain shell for the spray
Water and a snack
An offline map or screenshot
A dry bag for your phone
Cash for parking
A bag to pack out trash
Practical visitor tips
Screenshot the directions and these coordinates before you leave town.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet: spray reaches further than you expect.
Keep your phone in a zip bag near the base.
Pack out everything, including food scraps.
Tell someone where you are going if the trail is long or remote.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Eternal Flame Falls, New York located?
Eternal Flame Falls is in New York. Its GPS coordinates are 42.70185, -78.75176.
What kind of waterfall is Eternal Flame Falls, New York?
Its form (plunge, cascade, horsetail and so on) is not listed yet.
How tall is Eternal Flame Falls?
Its height has not passed a source check yet, so we do not show a number or include it in tallest lists.
How much does it cost, and when is it open?
No fee is listed, though parking or day-use fees may apply. Most falls are open dawn to dusk; check the managing agency for seasonal closures.
Is Eternal Flame Falls good for families?
It depends on the trail, which we have not confirmed. Check the length and terrain first, and keep children well back from wet rock and the edge.
How do I know if it is flowing?
No gauge is linked, so use the last three days of rain in the weather panel: more rain usually means more water.
The bottom line
Eternal Flame Falls is worth a detour, especially after rain. Go early, check recent rain, wear grippy shoes, and give yourself time to sit and listen once you get there.
Waterfalls nearby
One fall rarely fills a day. These are within about 40 miles.
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