Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (#2), Paterson: Photos, Reviews & Location

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Paterson

National historical park known for a 77-ft. waterfall that sparked water-power development in 1792.

At a glance

#2 of 3 Historical landmarks in Paterson #4 of 10 Tourist attractions in Paterson

LocalGuideWorld score: 4.50

0.3 km from the center of Paterson

Rating breakdown

5 ★68%
4 ★20%
3 ★8%
2 ★2%
1 ★2%

72 McBride Ave Ext, Paterson, NJ 07501

nps.gov

(973) 523-0370

Photos of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (117)

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Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Paterson – photo 1

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Paterson – photo 2

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Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, Paterson – photo 12

Quick facts

What is the rating of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park?: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 9,268 reviews.
How does Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park rank in Paterson?: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is #2 of 3 Historical landmarks in Paterson by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
Where is Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park located?: 72 McBride Ave Ext, Paterson, NJ 07501 — 0.3 km from the center of Paterson.
How can I contact Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park?: Phone: (973) 523-0370 · Website: nps.gov

Reviews (8)

Iowa Reviewers 2024 Mar 19

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

This is a cool park nestled in an urban setting. The falls rush and spill over while traffic goes by; the mist of the falling water can surprise visitors when wind gusts share it in an unexpected direction. Construction should improve the park, but more mobile visitors will be able to more readily see the falls from different angles.

Johnny Kong 2024 Mar 18

Great view of the falls. Plenty of space to walk around the falls. Ample parking on a weekday. I took a free park ranger guided tour which was very informative. The tour was about an hour long. I walked around the area as well. I wanted to visit the Paterson museum but it was closed to the public due to a recent fire. I was told it should open in a month.

Henry Kaden 2024 Mar 14

Beautiful day to at the Paterson Falls. Just an amazing site in the middle of an urban area. The park and area are in the midst of a major renovation so it will only improve. The industrial area in which it's located gives you a hint of how valuable the falls were to local manufacturing. Will go back after the renovations.

George Abrantes 2024 Mar 14

Paterson Great Falls is a missed opportunity. Sadly as a part of the National Parks system, this park is a mess.

The falls provide a natural draw. The site is under renovation but there is zero work being done on a nice day in the middle of the week. No park people anywhere. Is everyone working from home?

The site needs a MAJOR cleanup with trash everywhere. The waterway is fairly clean but that is probably due to the massive amounts of water going over the falls due to recent flooding.

Traffic around the site is chaotic but parking is not a problem. There is no fee to enter as there are zero people at the site. Porta Potties at the lower parking lot only.

The bridge over the falls is unsafe and closed. This bisects the park and makes you have to leave the park to see the upper and lower falls.

The surrounding area has an interesting mix of old mill buildings from the 1800s and rundown tenements. This park has potential but needs better management. Finish the construction and cleanup the place now.

Sindhu Swaroop 2024 Mar 09

A beautiful waterfall amidst a very sad landscape. It’s in the middle of the city and I don’t expect the background to be scenic but the buildings and everything around are so horribly maintained I feel sad that such a marvelous natural wonder (second in width only to Niagara Falls) has to be in such a poorly maintained area.

Ranjitha Raghu 2024 Jan 23

This place is beautiful all seasons. We have taken many of our friends and family visiting us in Jersey to this water falls and they all appreciated the beauty of this falls. In summer you would enjoy the mist from falls if you on the other side along with the closer view of falls. In winter the icicles are beautifully forms and require nice snow boots to warm around as the pace is going to very slippery. Since this place is close to our home not familiar with restrooms around. However it has many benches to sit and watch the falls. Also we could do picnic on grass area in summer.

Jacob Berezin 2023 Dec 18

Paterson Falls in NJ exceeded expectations! Gorgeous Nature amidst city manufacturing bustle.
Friendly and helpful rangers enhanced the experience. Although the bridge was closed, the walkaround path offered breathtaking views of the falls' power and beauty.
A stunning rainbow appeared, adding a touch of magic. Rangers' enthusiasm and knowledge made up for the closure. A great experience, will return to explore more!

C Block 2023 Dec 16

I visited Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park and was awe-struck by the majestic beauty of the falls! The roaring sound and stunning views took my breath away. The park's rich history and well-preserved architecture added depth to my experience. I enjoyed the easy-to-follow trails, informative exhibits, and scenic overlooks. The park's staff were friendly and knowledgeable. A must-visit destination in NJ, Paterson Great Falls exceeded my expectations and left me feeling inspired and connected to nature's wonder!