Right now
Right now as of Nov 8, 2026
- Permit None needed.
Status note (Nov 8, 2026): Open, as far as we can tell: NPS says the park is open every day, with grounds open sunrise to sunset. Alerts read Nov 8, 2026, warn that parking is extremely limited on weekends and event days, and the lot closes at dusk. NPS still lists a footbridge closure alert whose stated end date, Oct 23, has passed. Some facilities and paths close in winter. What the status labels mean
Paterson Great Falls is a 77-foot waterfall on the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey, per the National Park Service. It is the centerpiece of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. Entry is free, and NPS says the grounds are open for visiting from sunrise to sunset. You can view the falls from Overlook Park or from the observation deck in Mary Ellen Kramer Park.
About Paterson Great Falls
Paterson Great Falls drops 77 feet on the Passaic River in Paterson, Passaic County, New Jersey. NPS describes "an extraordinary 77-foot fall into a naturally occurring 280-foot chasm."
Wikipedia calls it the Great Falls of the Passaic River and gives the same 77-foot height. The falls sit inside Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, managed by the National Park Service.
Where to see the falls
NPS names two main viewing spots. Overlook Park, at the main park address of 72 McBride Avenue Extension, gives a view of the falls from a distance.
Mary Ellen Kramer Park sits beside the falls and Hinchliffe Stadium. NPS says you can feel the spray there, and its observation deck "offers spectacular falls views."
A pedestrian footbridge also crosses the falls. Nearby, NPS says a walk through Upper Raceway Park follows the beginning of the raceway system.
A short history
Alexander Hamilton co-founded the "Society for Establishing Usefull Manufactures" (S.U.M.) in 1791, per NPS. In May 1792, the society bought 700 acres above and below the Great Falls.
That purchase established the City of Paterson, which NPS calls the first planned industrial city in the nation. The city was named for Governor William Paterson, who signed the S.U.M. charter.
Paterson later earned the name "Silk City." NPS says nearly half of all silk in the United States was processed there.
The falls became a National Natural Landmark in 1967. The park was authorized in 2009 and formally established on November 7, 2011, as the 397th NPS unit.
A hydroelectric plant at the falls is still active. NPS says a private company runs it under contract and sells the electricity to PSE&G.
Our map pin is the NPS park address coordinate at 72 McBride Avenue Extension. It marks the main lot and Overlook Park, not the exact falls.
Getting there and parking
The NPS address is 72 McBride Avenue Extension, Paterson, NJ 07501. NPS also gives GPS coordinates N40.91533 W74.17992, which our directions button uses.
Parking at Overlook Park
The main visitor lot is at the park address. NPS says vehicles must be parked in a designated spot, and accessible spaces are available at Overlook Park.
An NPS alert says the lot is open from dawn to dusk every day. Vehicles left after sunset are subject to towing at the owner's expense.
The NPS hours page adds that the lot closes sometime after dark. It reopens each morning between 7:45 and 8:45 a.m.
Overflow parking
NPS warns that parking is extremely limited on weekends and event days. Overflow parking is available at the Paterson Museum, 2 Market Street.
On weekends only, NPS says extra parking is available at the lot across from the museum. Several nearby municipal garages charge for parking.
NPS also still lists an alert about a partial lot closure on September 26, 2026, a date that has passed. For Hinchliffe Stadium, NPS points to a public garage off Jasper Street.
By train or bus
NPS lists two transit options. Take the NJ Transit Main Line to Paterson station, then walk about 1 mile. Or take Bus #190 from NY Penn Station to the Market Street stop.
To reach Mary Ellen Kramer Park, NPS says to use Wayne Avenue (Spruce Street Bridge) and turn right onto Maple Street.
Map and nearby falls
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OpenPartly open / seasonalUnconfirmedClosedLarger map
Visiting: views, tours, dogs and access
There is no hike to reach the falls. NPS describes viewing them at a distance from Overlook Park or up close in Mary Ellen Kramer Park.
Footbridge alert
An NPS alert said the south side of the pedestrian footbridge would be closed "through Friday, October 23." That date has passed, but NPS still listed the alert on Nov 8, 2026.
The same alert said visitors could still reach the footbridge from Mary Ellen Kramer Park.
Ranger tours
Rangers are available 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, per the NPS hours page. Ranger-guided walking tours run at 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday, as staffing permits.
From Friday to Sunday, tours run at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. NPS asks you to call 973-523-0370 or 201-458-3475 on the day of your visit.
Dogs
NPS requires pets on a hard, non-retractable leash no longer than six feet (two meters). Pets may not be left unattended.
Accessibility
NPS says most visitor services and facilities are accessible to wheelchair users with assistance. Some sections of city sidewalk and paved path are narrow or steep.
Routes around outdoor stairs add about two minutes at most, per NPS. Accessible bathrooms are at the Paterson Museum, and no wheelchairs are available to borrow.
Restrooms
NPS says there is no visitor center and no indoor facilities. Its pages conflict on restrooms. One line says restrooms are unavailable, while another lists portable toilets from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., staff permitting.
When to visit
NPS says the falls reach peak water volume around March and April.
The park is open every day. NPS says some park facilities and paths are closed during the winter.
The NPS hours page says grounds are open for visiting from sunrise to sunset. Its basic info page says grounds are available 24 hours, but the best time to visit is sunrise to sunset.
Because the main lot closes after dark, plan to leave before sunset. NPS says parking is tightest on weekends and event days.
Check current alerts on the NPS Paterson Great Falls home page before you go. For a mountain waterfall in the same state, see Buttermilk Falls in New Jersey.
| Height | 77 ftNote: NPS: "an extraordinary 77-foot fall into a naturally occurring 280-foot chasm" |
|---|---|
| Trail | No hike; NPS names two viewing spots: Overlook Park at the main lot (a distance view) and the observation deck in Mary Ellen Kramer Park, beside the falls |
| Difficulty | No official rating: NPS gives no difficulty. We call it easy because the falls are seen from park viewpoints, but NPS notes some sidewalks and paved paths are narrow or steep |
| Entry fee | Free. The NPS fees page says "Free. No entrance pass required." It adds that the park "does not charge an entrance fee." Some nearby municipal garages charge for parking |
| Permit / reservation | No entrance pass or permit required; NPS says the park charges no entrance fee |
| Parking | 72 McBride Ave Ext.; overflow at 2 Market St |
| Hours / season | Grounds open for visiting sunrise to sunset; rangers available 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day (NPS hours page). The main lot closes after dark |
| Dogs | Allowed on a hard (non-retractable) leash no longer than six feet (two meters), per NPS. Pets may not be left unattended |
| Swimming | No swimming rule listed on the NPS pages we read. NPS says to stay on designated paths and not climb or cross barriers |
| Wheelchair / stroller | NPS says most visitor services and facilities are accessible to wheelchair users with assistance. Some sidewalks and paved paths are narrow or steep, and routes around outdoor stairs add about two minutes at most. Accessible parking is at Overlook Park |
| Best time to visit | Around March and April, when NPS says the falls reach peak water volume |
| Crowds | NPS says parking is extremely limited on weekends and event days; no crowd figure is published |
| Managed by | National Park Service, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park |
Safety and swimming
Stay on designated paths and trails, and do not climb or cross barriers, per NPS. Walls and railings are often slippery with water or ice.
In winter, the river above and below the falls may freeze over. NPS warns that water keeps flowing under the ice, which is thin and dangerous.
NPS lists no swimming rule on the pages we read. Fishing is allowed along the river's edge, but not from the river walk or wall at Overlook Park and the Quarry Lawn.
Ticks, poison ivy and bees are present in the wooded areas. The park is in a busy urban area, so NPS advises locking your vehicle.
Drones, smoking, alcohol, barbecues, open fires and fireworks are prohibited, and there is no camping. Our waterfall safety guide has more on slick rock and ice.
Conditions change: confirm with the official source before you go.
Where to stay near Paterson Great Falls
Compare hotels, cabins and rentals close to the falls around Paterson.
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Photos
Paterson Great Falls FAQ
Is Paterson Great Falls open?
As far as we can tell, yes. NPS says the park is open every day, with grounds open sunrise to sunset. Alerts read Nov 8, 2026, warn that parking is extremely limited on weekends and event days.
How tall is Paterson Great Falls?
77 feet. NPS describes "an extraordinary 77-foot fall into a naturally occurring 280-foot chasm."
Is Paterson Great Falls free?
Yes. NPS says the park does not charge an entrance fee and no entrance pass is required. Some nearby municipal garages do charge for parking.
Where is the best view of Paterson Great Falls?
NPS names Overlook Park, at 72 McBride Avenue Extension, for a view from a distance. For a closer look, the observation deck in Mary Ellen Kramer Park sits beside the falls.
Where do you park for Paterson Great Falls?
The main NPS lot is at 72 McBride Avenue Extension. It closes after dark, and cars left after sunset may be towed. Overflow parking is at the Paterson Museum, 2 Market Street.
Are dogs allowed at Paterson Great Falls?
Yes. NPS requires a hard, non-retractable leash no longer than six feet. Pets may not be left unattended.
When is Paterson Great Falls at its biggest?
NPS says the falls reach peak water volume around March and April.
Nearby waterfalls
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Raymondskill Falls43 mi straight-line, by our mathOpen150FT
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City guides: Waterfalls near New York City, NY
Sources
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park home page and alerts (read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Operating Hours & Seasons (grounds, rangers, tours, lot hours; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Basic Information (facilities, winter closures, prohibited items; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Fees & Passes (read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Directions and Transportation (address, coordinates, transit; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Pets (read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Physical Mobility accessibility (read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Safety (read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Things To Do (Overlook Park, Upper Raceway Park; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Nearby Attractions (Mary Ellen Kramer Park, Hinchliffe Stadium; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls FAQs (peak water volume; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Foundation Document (77-foot fall, landmark and park dates; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: The Birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution (Hamilton, S.U.M., Silk City; read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Hydroelectric Plant (read Nov 8, 2026)
- NPS: Paterson Great Falls Superintendent's Compendium (fishing rules; approved June 1, 2026; read Nov 8, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Great Falls (Passaic River) (read Nov 8, 2026)
Last verified Nov 8, 2026 by The Waterfall Guide editorial team. Conditions change: confirm with National Park Service, Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park before you go. Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.