Good news if visiting a waterfall is on your bucket list, but you don’t want to travel far—you can head to the Paterson Great Falls, the second-largest waterfall by volume east of the Mississippi. Yes, NJ has a jaw-dropping waterfall where you can experience all the thrills of water thundering down without the huge crowds or tourist traps (we see you Niagara). The 119-acre Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is located on the Passaic River, with plenty of space for exploring, having a picnic, catching a water spray, and snapping selfies at the observation sites. Scroll down to find out how to make the most of your visit to Paterson Great Falls, and check out the other waterfalls around NJ too. (feature photo credit: istock/Brian Logan)
Checking out Paterson Great Falls through a child’s eyes. Photo Credit: @mc.mmg
Brush up on your history about Paterson Great Falls
The breathtaking and impressive Paterson Great Falls waterfall is beaten only by the famous Niagara Falls and towers at a whopping 77 feet high and about 300 feet wide, pouring up to two billion gallons of water down each day. Yet Paterson Great Falls wasn’t always a tourist attraction—the falls played a significant role after the American Revolution when then-Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton spearheaded the birth of Paterson’s industrial city in 1791. He realized that the waterpower of the falls could provide much-needed energy for manufacturing factories. At one point, over 40,000 people worked in the factories and relied on the falls to power the industry. The falls provided power from the river for over 150 years, spanning three centuries and making Paterson the world’s center for producing silk, cotton, and locomotives.
A beautiful site— the power generating station at the Passaic River and Paterson Great Falls in New Jersey. Photo Credit: istock/Vladimir Senyatkin
See the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park up close
Stopping off the highway and parking is one way to see the breathtaking Paterson Great Falls, but you can also get up close to them at Mary Ellen Kramer Park (currently, the pathways around the pump and gatehouse are closed due to construction, but the Maple Street sidewalk area is open) to access the waterfall overlook. You can find park staff on-site to answer any questions you might have and give tips on the best places for photo ops. And when it’s time for lunch or an afternoon snack, grab a picnic table or bench, or lay out a blanket for a picnic on a shady spot of grass. If you want to do a self-guided tour, download the free Mill Mile app for a walking tour. Your kiddos can also become junior rangers for the park—they’ll learn about the park’s history, understand its importance, and receive a fun badge recognizing their contributions.
What to know before you go to Paterson Great Falls
Through November 30, 2024, Park Rangers are available from 9 AM-4:30 PM Wednesday-Friday, and guided walking tours are at 11 AM and 2 PM. On weekends, there are guided tours but check ahead due to availability. The main parking lot at 72 McBride Extension is open from dawn to dusk every day. When the lot is filled, parking is available at the Paterson Museum, located at 2 Market Street. On weekends only, additional parking is available at the lot across from the Museum. There is currently no visitor center or indoor facilities due to the new visitor center construction. Portable toilets are available from 9 AM – 4 PM if staff is available.
For more information, visit the Paterson Great Falls website, Instagram, and Facebook.
Paterson Great Falls
72 McBride Avenue Extension
Paterson, NJ 07501
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