great falls national historical park

Visited for the first time today - convenient to get to the park, ample free parking, and what a view! For those who need handicap accessible or stroller accessible places to visit, this spot can accommodate. However, be aware that in the winter, snow and ice may prevent one from going beyond the initial parking lot to the landing below.

Since this is a new National Park much work is planned for the future. The Falls are the second highest on the East Coast - 77 feet - and with the adjacent location to the Paterson Historical District brings a good history of these early post - Revolution industries.My Grandsons and I, on our wandering, stumbled on the ruins of old factories. Now overgrown and covered with graffiti with a lot of garbage, it was a fun exploration for us. For me, my maternal Great Grandfather and Grandfather got their starts in those factories, it meant even more.

I enjoyed our visit to the Great Falls, which we scheduled on a sunny day after a major rainfall so that we might really appreciate the waterfall. It was breathtaking. Being a native of the area, this is a place I have always intended to visit, and finally did. Relatively easy to find with GPS, however, parking is not so easy to find on the upper side of the falls - it is a bit of a distance, and the park isn't too well tended there. We enjoyed a rainbow over the water as we stood on the bridge above it. It's a beautiful place, really transporting the viewer to another plane. Definitely worth a visit!Note: I think anyone with a mobility challenge might find this location difficult to get around.

I took my friends that were here on vacation to see the falls.They like it. We took many pictures and posted them on facebook, my friends thought i was in Niagara Falls.

Worth a stop to see the falls if you are in the area. Seemed very run down. Needs work and then maintenance.

This is a hidden gem in a city that often gets a bad reputation. The Great Falls are absolutely wonderful any time of year but are at its best soon after a storm, when the falls are at its mightiest. There are plenty of good vantage points for photography and just general gazing, plus there are fairly new markers and info boards on sight and always a couple of national park rangers to direct, inform and keep the place safe.The adjacent info center and Paterson museum are a must see as they contain a lot of the history of the area, from the days when the Lenape made the area their home to an era when Paterson was a thriving industrial town. Also make a trip to nearby Hinchcliffe Stadium, another historic site that needs restoration and preservation.Great Falls is always visitor friendly, rarely overcrowded, ample parking and plenty of available info. And of course, the falls itself!

The Paterson or Passaic Falls is a great surprise and treat if you are ever near Paterson, NJ.The falls themselves are very impressive, but there is also interesting history - going back to Alexander Hamilton.The park is undergoing major construction that should result in much better and closer views of the main falls - perhaps a year or so away.

The Totowa falls as it was first known, was named by the Lenape Indians as literally meaning sinking or "falling water". The Totowa falls was the reason Alexander Hamilton pushed so hard to have the City of Paterson established, he believed that that the falls would be the center of manufacturing for NJ. Because of these falls Paterson was the center of manufacturing on the north east coast, Paterson was known as "Lyon" of America. Lyon France was the center of silk manufacturing industry worldwide. The Colt 45, the first locomotive, the Fenian Ram submarine along with the engine of "Spirit of Saint Louis" were all built in the area. Just down the street from the falls you can visit the Paterson Museum which houses these great historic items. A stone throw away is Hinchliffe Stadium which was the site of the Negro baseball league, the home of the New York Black Yankees and where the Colored Championship of the Nation was played, the Negro League equivalent of the World Series.The Falls are undergoing renovation so it may not be a good time to visit and as far as being afraid to get mugged, solicited for drugs or even approached by a lady of the evening is so ludicrous that it makes me laugh when I see reviews that people are afraid. The Falls are a great part of our history as a nation it would be a shame to miss it.

Being in the arm-pit of Paterson, this was a most unexpected great visit. The falls weren't running that heavily and the walking bridge and Mary Kramer Park was closed for repair. Our tour guide was Peter Daley, who was a young college student who knew his history and made this so enjoyable!! We were fascinated by the facts and the view was so pretty. Be sure to have guide walk you across the street to see the Locomotive museum, Rosen Mill and Middle and Upper "Raceway" (channel for rushing waters). Beautiful walk with the fall leaves. There's no fee to park but there is a $2 charge for museum.We will definitely return next time i visit as the and bridge should be open by early spring 2015. Check out their website for updates:http://www.nps.gov/pagr/index.htm

No matter what your expectations, the 80-ft tall Great Falls of Paterson will exceed them ! I've only been there twice: once to picnic at the site, another time to hike & photograph. We loved the sound of the falls, the peacefulness, the proximity to where we live, & especially the lack of visitors ! Perhaps this is one of northern NJ's greatest secrets? Be sure to check their website for any notices related to the day you plan to visit?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Falls_(Passaic_River)

Less than 25 miles from Manhattan -- and taking I80 either to or from the Falls gives you a fantastic view of the City.The falls are sort of sideways so that they don't have the glories of a full frontal view like Niagara, but a profile view has its own charms. At high water the chasm is filled with sound and spray and fog and can be spell binding.Alexander Hamilton presides -- he thought that this site would become an industrial power house and the antique machinery, water conduits, period bridges, all make this a great spot to visiit. Best of all, many New Yorkers, and Jerseyites, don't know anything about the glories here.Note: some visitors thought the surrounding areas were dangerous. Both parking lots, one on the northeast side and one on the south east side are both well policed and perfectly safe. I've taken many visitors here for over 20 years with never a problem.

When we visited it seemed part of the park and the pedestrian bridge were closed for renovation. This was indicated on the web site so it was not a surprise. The main park area on McBride Avenue provides a pretty view of the waterfall. It was not as clean or as well groomed as I would have expected for the focal point of a tourist attraction. Still, the surrounding neighborhood appears clean, pleasant, and historically restored. Parking and access to the park are both free. Parking is convenient and ample. Did not visit the nearby museums, but I believe they are worth visiting and doing so would probably raise the rating a bit for the overall experience in the area.

The falls are cool. The app is good for listening to as you tour. Not worth a special trip. I was happy to get a passport stamp at the museum

That's exactly what we felt like....expected a 'historic' district and a National Park, there's a difference in 'historic' and dump!Surrounding area was dangerous, drug dealers obvious, prostitute exiting vehicle as we turned the corner, entered the "park" almost didn't get out of the car, there was 2 other families there, so we done it. Walked straight to rock wall, seen some water and walked right back to the car. Homeless shacked up on benches and on grass area below, trash EVERYWHERE! Fences not maintained, walls falling apart, stairs dangerous (I did peek). Would love to say this could be a beautiful area, but I don't think so, not unless you can pick it up and move it out of that trash hole that surrounds it. It's sad when people don't appreciate and respect where they live :-(The falls might be gorgeous, and they sure look nice via photos but that's as close as I am getting, would rather live another day and protect my kids from whatever goes on there. Just...no.

Falls are beautiful- everything else not so much. Trust me when I say I used to work next to the Falls for many years and the crime over there is outrageous. Look at some pictures instead.