Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
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Paterson Great Falls at a glance
- Best time
- April–May, September–October
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Main Paterson Great Falls highlights — see Things to Do for current listings
- Nearby city
- Gateway towns in NJ
Explore this park
About Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
Silk cloth and steam locomotives; textiles and continuous paper rolls; firearms and aircraft engines. What do these things have in common? All were manufactured in the same place - Paterson, NJ. In 1792, Paterson was established as America's first planned industrial city, centered around the Great Falls of the Passaic River. From humble mills rose industries that changed the face of the nation.
Operating Hours
General Park Hours
Grounds are open 7 days a weel and Rangers are available 9:00AM-4:30PM Wednesday-Sunday . Please call 973-523-0370 or 201-458-3475(park cell number) the day of your visit to ensure tour availability. Grounds open suggested time for visiting grounds between sunrise-sunset. The National Park's main visitor parking lot at 72 McBride Avenue Extension will be closed every day sometime after dark and reopened every morning between 7:45am and 8:45am.
- MondaySunrise to Sunset
- TuesdayAll Day
- Wednesday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Thursday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Friday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Saturday9:00AM - 4:30PM
- Sunday9:00AM - 4:30PM
Common questions
Planning Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics — check Alerts and Permits for live updates.
Reservation rules vary by season and activity for Paterson Great Falls. Check the Permits tab on this page and Recreation.gov before you travel — campground, tour, or backcountry permits may apply even without park-wide timed entry.
See Permits tab →
