Eternal Flame Trail is in New York about a half hour drive south of Buffalo.

Eternal Flame Trail: What you need to know before you go.

We pulled into the Eternal Flame Trail parking lot just before noon on a cloudy spring day. The lot was huge and could have easily accommodated 50 cars, but there were maybe 10 that day. Hoping out of the car, it was cool outside. The air was humid, and the ground was wet from a storm that had passed earlier in the morning.

We’d spent the past two days exploring the Niagra Falls area and checking out Buffalo. This hike starts in Chestnut Ridge Park in Western New York, about 30 minutes south of Buffalo.

Hiking the Eternal Flame Trail

I was unsure what to expect from this trail. “I saw a few pictures online; it’s a small waterfall with a flame behind it,” I told my wife. “Let’s head to the trailhead and read that sign.” The hike was a little over a mile roundtrip, and judging by the trailhead, it was a pretty well-worn path.

We started down the hardpacked dirt trail. The first part of the trail passed through a lovely forest bursting with neon green leaves sprouting from branches. After a relatively steep but short section, we entered a ravine. “Okay, this just got much prettier,” My wife said. “It sure did. I am amazed at how green it is.” I responded. This part of the trail was relatively flat and traveled along the bottom of the ravine to the waterfall and flame. We had to cross a small stream a few times along the way, but it was easy enough to keep our feet dry. Soon, we arrived at the trail’s highlight, the Eternal Flame.

The flame flickered about 8 inches tall. It was tucked away in a small grotto at the waterfalls, with a small hole emitting natural gas. “I had to relight it earlier. Some kids were playing on the falls and accidentally knocked it out,” a man enjoying the view said. “Really! I’m glad you were here because I did not think to bring a lighter,” I chuckled.

The flame is generally year-round, but as the man said, it will occasionally go out and must be relit. Given the rain from earlier, I was surprised by how little water was coming off the falls. Pictures I found online showed a full-on stream pouring over the flame. Regardless, it was still beautiful and well worth it.

We spent about 15 minutes at the flame, taking pictures and admiring its unique features. It started to rain again, so we hustled back to the car, satisfied with an enjoyable experience.