Eternal Flame Falls - Orchard Park, New York - Waterfalls on Waymarking.com

The Eternal Flame Falls is a small waterfall in the Shale Creek Preserve, a section of Chestnut Ridge County Park (Erie County, NY) where the creek cuts deep into a gorge through a layer of greenish-gray rock called Hanover Shale.

To get to the Eternal Flame Falls, park at N 42° 41.996 W 078° 45.143 (Seufert Road), and follow the Blue Trail marked with blue wooden blocks. Please do not try and find an alternate way to the cache area as the cliff walls are loose shale and clay mud and are extremely slippery. The Blue Trail is well marked and of moderate to steep terrain. Cachers will also need to cross the water at a couple points along the trail so please come prepared.

Upon entering the gorge and approaching the base of Eternal Flame Falls, cachers will notice a change in the ambient aroma. What you smell is the natural gas that leaks from between the shale layers. At the base of the waterfall you will find a small grotto that emits natural gas which can be lit to produce a small flame.

The natural gas that is escaping from this small grotto is a gaseous fossil fuel consisting primarily of methane. It is found in oil fields and natural gas fields, and in coal beds. When methane-rich gases are produced by the anaerobic decay of non-fossil organic material, these are referred to as biogas. Sources of biogas include swamps, marshes as well as man-made entities such as landfills, sewage and manure storage facilities. The result of this natural gas leak is two and sometimes three burning flames behind a wall of water.

Type: Cascade Parking Coordinates: N 42° 41.996 W 078° 45.143 Watercourse: Shale Creek Waterfall Height: 25 Seasonality: Perennial Seasons of Best Flow: From: 01/01/2007 To: 12/31/2007 Viewpoint: Bottom Path Up and Down: Full Walk Behind: Not at all

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/14/2022 Deadliest Cachers visited it 08/16/2020 2-2 wheelers visited it 07/11/2015 nutwhaley visited it 06/26/2014 r.e.s.t.seekers visited it 01/19/2014 stinger503 visited it 07/02/2013 mTn_biKer65 visited it 08/01/2012 petendot visited it 05/22/2012 JoelMart visited it 05/22/2012 Dove78 visited it 05/03/2012 Freddie's Pack visited it 12/04/2011 kimchee&smartykatt visited it 12/04/2011 KNAPAHOLIC visited it 07/02/2011 bluelamb03 visited it 05/20/2011 aboudreau visited it 03/20/2011 Letsrappel visited it 01/20/2011 sevenil7il visited it 11/27/2010 emzernask visited it 07/01/2010 Treknschmidt visited it 05/23/2010 northernpenguin visited it 05/06/2010 Dr. House visited it 05/01/2010 dhcmca visited it 05/01/2010 dhcmca visited it 05/01/2010 dhcmca visited it 05/01/2010 dhcmca visited it 09/25/2008 The Blue Quasar visited it

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