Hidden gem

Paterson Great Falls, NJ

A 77-foot waterfall in the middle of a city, a short trip from Manhattan. It's a national park, it's free, and many visitors to the New York area have never heard of it.

Where: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 72 McBride Avenue Extension, Paterson, NJ 07501
Hours: Grounds open every day, sunrise to sunset. Some paths close in winter.
Cost: Free
Good for: A short stop, photography, history, an easy walk
Park phone: (973) 523-0370

Hours, parking and facilities can change. Check the National Park Service's current conditions page before you go.

Why it's different

The Passaic River drops 77 feet between dark basalt cliffs, and the falls are about 260 feet wide. New Jersey says it is the second-largest waterfall by volume east of the Mississippi, after Niagara. It sits in the middle of Paterson, not out in the wilderness.

The falls are also where American industry started. In 1792 Alexander Hamilton chose the site for the country's first planned industrial city. The Society for Establishing Useful Manufactures built a system of raceways, first laid out by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, to carry the river's power to the mills. Paterson grew into a mill city famous for its silk. Congress made it a national historical park in 2009.

What to see

Overlook Park. The main viewpoint, beside the parking area. The falls are right in front of you.
Mary Ellen Kramer Park. Across the river, for a view of the falls from the other side.
The raceways and mills. Walk the historic district to see the channels that once fed water to the factories.
Hinchliffe Stadium. Next to Mary Ellen Kramer Park, a historic ballpark that once hosted Negro League baseball.
Great Falls Historic District Cultural Center. Run by the city at 65 McBride Avenue, with local history. Its hours vary, so check before you go.

Make a day of it

Join a ranger tour. Rangers are usually on site midweek, with tours at weekends. Call the park on the day to confirm.
Go after rain. The flow depends on the river. The falls are fullest after heavy rain or snowmelt and can be thin in a dry spell.
Add a view from above. Garret Mountain Auto Overlook looks out over Paterson from the ridge, a short drive away.
Collect a stamp. National Parks Passport stamps are at the park's administrative office during opening hours.

Get ready to go

Parking is free for two hours at Overlook Park, but the lot is small and fills fast on weekends and holidays. There is limited free street parking on Maple Street, by Mary Ellen Kramer Park, and paid parking downtown, including the Hinchliffe Stadium garage.
The Park Service has no indoor visitor centre. Portable toilets are usually open 9am to 4pm, staff permitting.
Stay behind railings and off the rocks. The water is fast and the cliffs are steep.
The Overlook Park lot may close after dark.

Sources

Last checked October 2026.