Paterson Great Falls — 77ft Block in New Jersey

Paterson Great Falls is a 77-foot block waterfall in Passaic County, New Jersey, reached by drive-up access over 0.1 miles.

Paterson Great Falls is a 77-foot block waterfall on the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey — the second-highest-volume waterfall east of the Mississippi after Niagara, and the centerpiece of Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. The site has industrial significance: Alexander Hamilton selected Paterson as America's first planned industrial city in 1791, leveraging the falls' water power for cotton mills, silk factories, and locomotive works. The waterfall and the surrounding 19th-century industrial ruins are both protected. Drive-up access right in downtown Paterson, free.

What to expect

Drive into downtown Paterson (about 20 minutes from NYC). Park at the National Park Service visitor center on McBride Avenue (free street parking) or at the Mary Ellen Kramer Park overlook lot. The main viewing platform is at the visitor center — directly above the falls. Multiple bridges and walkways extend the views. The NPS visitor center has exhibits on Hamilton's industrial vision and Paterson's labor history. Pair with a tour of the historic mill ruins or a meal in the Latin American restaurant district nearby.