Eternal Flame Falls

Once considered an "obscure" attraction in the region, media attention and improvements to the access trail have led to an increased number of visitors.[2] The increased popularity of the falls has led to some negative impacts, such as an increase in litter, vandalism, pollution, and impacts on the surrounding terrain by tourists,[1] but also fueled a successful public protest against a plan to clear a nearby forested area to install a disc golf course in 2012. However, the disc golf course was installed just through the forest area. (Aug 2023) Back in Business: The main trail to the Eternal Flame Falls in Orchard Park, NY is now open after major work was done there over the last month. 139 box steps were put into place, bypassing what was the trickiest part of the Eternal Flame Trail at Chestnut Ridge Park. Some 120 feet of railing were also added to assist folks taking the trail to the creek bed there. This remains a challenging descent into the stream, extreme caution is suggested—that and proper footwear.[3][4]

Geologists from Indiana University Bloomington and Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology studied Eternal Flame Falls in 2013 in an effort to better understand how natural gas emitted from naturally occurring hydrocarbon seeps contribute to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They found that the 'macro seep' at Eternal Flame Falls had higher concentrations of ethane and propane (about 35%) than other known natural gas seeps, which typically contain a greater proportion of methane.[5] They estimated that the seep at the falls emits approximately one kilogram (2.2 lb) of methane per day.[6]

The researchers also noted the presence of numerous other 'micro seeps' in the area of the falls. By comparing the gas emitted by these seeps with gas from wells in the area, they determined that the gasses originate from Rhinestreet Shale approximately 400 meters (1,300 ft) below the surface. Tectonic activity likely opened faults in the shale, allowing the gas to reach the surface.[5]

According to one geologist involved in the 2013 study, the seep's apparent source could provide evidence for a previously unknown geologic mechanism by which natural gas is produced within shale. Typically, shale must be hot (around 100 °C [212 °F]) for its carbon structures to break down and form smaller natural gas molecules. However, the shale from which Eternal Flame Falls draws its gas is much cooler, in addition to being younger and shallower than typical gas-bearing shale. This may indicate that additional, as yet un-demonstrated, processes can contribute to the creation of natural gas in shale; one possibility is that a catalyst capable of breaking down shale in cooler conditions is present.[7]

• Naturally fueled eternal flames
• List of waterfalls of New York

• Map of Eternal Flame Falls trail