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Chestnut Ridge Park Eternal Flame Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 84 Google reviews · Running trail in Orchard Park, New York · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Not reported
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Chestnut Ridge Park Eternal Flame Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Stretching 6 miles, this park features a trail network and an eternal flame fueled by natural gas.
What runners say about Chestnut Ridge Park Eternal Flame Trail
“The setting is truly beautiful, and once you reach the final spot, you’ll notice a faint smell of natural gas—that’s what keeps the flame burning in that spot.”
What a special place! This is a great hike and worth the effort. Bring shoes to walk in the creek and a lighter to relight the flame if necessary. The trail out has some elevation. While the trail is easily accessible, it can be a challenge for those with breathing or mobility difficulties.
This was a fun trip and small hike. It's not a long trail but would be challenging for some. There are slippery rocks and loose gravel. It's worth it.
It’s a place where you’ll instantly feel a sense of peace because of how close you are to nature. To reach the “eternal flame,” walk until you see sign number 17, then follow the trail that runs alongside a small creek.
Free parking and access to the falls. Very short walk down to the falls. Takes about 15 minutes. We were lucky enough to see two young bucks while on the trail. The waterfalls was mostly dried up when we got there (late june) but was still a sight to see. Well worth checking out if your in the area.
Trail conditions & character
“The setting is truly beautiful, and once you reach the final spot, you’ll notice a faint smell of natural gas—that’s what keeps the flame burning in that spot.”
“Lots of parking, well marked trail, not much water on the falls but the flame burned on.”
“This place is amazing and unexplained as to how the flame occurred and stays lit even with all of the water around.”
Plan your run at Chestnut Ridge Park Eternal Flame Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- LightingRunners report lights on the path — useful for pre-dawn and after-work miles. Lighting and opening hours are separate things, so check both.
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–8 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–8 pm |
Running trails near Orchard Park
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Eternal Flame Falls
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,737 reviews
Secluded waterfalls with a hiking trail & a natural gas spring that when ignited flames 4-8 inches.
Chestnut Ridge Park
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1,200-acre park known for scenic hilltop with city view & Eternal Flame Falls, a natural phenomenon.
Birdsong Park Nature Trail
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Birdsong Parklands
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Yates Park
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Park with baseball diamonds, a beach, playground, and picnic tables, plus basketball and fishing.