The Other Buffalo-Area Waterfall: The Eternal Flame
When tourists come to the Buffalo region, they usually have only one waterfall on their minds. While Niagara Falls is undoubtedly majestic, there’s another cascade tucked away just south of the city that you shouldn’t miss.
As a lifetime Buffalonian, I’ve hiked to the Eternal Flame dozens of times and can confirm that it will a highlight of your trip.
Western New York’s Eternal Flame is a beautiful fusion of fire and water that seems to defy natural law. Located off the beaten path in Chestnut Ridge Park, one of the Southtowns of Buffalo, New York, the Eternal Flame Falls is a local haunt and popular hike for Western New Yorkers and tourists in the know.
Nobody knows who lit the flame in the first place, although it’s speculated that the first fire was sparked by Native Americans thousands of years ago. But the most puzzling aspect of the falls is that while a natural gas stream fuels it, the shale below the flame is nowhere hot enough to support it. There’s no rhyme or reason why the flame should exist, mainly because it’s shrouded in a curtain of water.
All this mystery only makes the Eternal Flame even more alluring. The more you know about it, the more eager you’ll be to marvel at it in person.
Hiking to the Eternal Flame
The round-trip hike to the Eternal Flame, which AllTrails rates moderate, is just a little under a mile and involves a fairly steep descent and ascent. The river bed is generally wet, muddy, and slippery regardless of the season. Proper footwear and a walking stick are a must. Take particular caution in the winter, when icy conditions can complicate things exponentially.
Bring a lighter with you no matter what time of year you visit the Eternal Flame. The flame occasionally goes out. Although you will hear a soft pop, it’s not dangerous to light the Eternal Flame. It could be one of the most memorable moments of your vacation.
Getting to Chestnut Ridge Park
The Eternal Flame is part of Chestnut Ridge Park and is located in Orchard Park, one of Buffalo’s so-called Southtowns. It’s only roughly 30 minutes by car from the Buffalo Niagara Airport. You can technically take a bus from the airport to central Ellicott Street station and hop on either the 16 or 14 bus to the McKinley Mall, but you’d still have to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi to Chestnut Ridge Park.
There are ample taxis, Ubers, and Lyfts at the airport, but if you want to explore the Southtowns and save a few dollars, renting a car or driving your own is the absolute best and most time-efficient option.
Spending Time in the Southtowns
Chestnut Ridge Park is a perennial hotspot where folks congregate to go tobogganing and sledding in the winter and play frisbee golf during the summer. Picnics are common, and dogs are welcome as long as they’re leashed.
If you want to explore the Southtowns beyond the park, head to idyllic Lake Erie Beach Park during the summer for a fun and festive vibe right on one of the Great Lakes. Drive further south to East Aurora and visit the charming Roycroft Campus, which boasts a vast selection of unique handicrafts and is a preserved guild of Roycroft crafts workers. You can tour the complex and appreciate the nature of these guilds, which have been preserved since the 19th century, as well as their material and philosophical contributions to the region.
If you’re in the mood for an adult beverage after your hike to the flame, Hamburg Brewing Company is close by. There’s also First Line Brewing, a brand-new kid on the block. Buffalo is famous for its love and mastery of craft brewing, so you won’t have any trouble getting that perfect pint.
Of course, you could always travel north to Niagara Falls to visit the other famous Western New York waterfall! Niagara Falls is roughly an hour north of Orchard Park.
The Eternal Flame is a thing of beauty and an emblem of Buffalo pride. Next time you’re in my hometown, check it out!
