Great Falls
- Height
- 77 ft
- Hike
- 0.1 mi round trip
- Dogs
- Allowed
Great Falls flows year-round. Great Falls is a 77 ft waterfall on Passaic River in Passaic County, New Jersey. Reaching it is a 0.1 mi hike round trip.
Closures and warnings
View from designated overlooks only. Entering the river or climbing near the falls is prohibited. As of September 28, 2026.
The falls
| Height | 77 ft |
|---|---|
| Flows | year-round |
| Flow note | About 77 ft on the Passaic River; flow varies with upstream rainfall and releases. |
| Swimming allowed | No |
|---|
Access
| Hike | 0.1 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Parking | Visitor parking near 72 McBride Avenue Extension, Paterson. |
| Fee | Free entry |
| Hours | Park grounds sunrise to sunset; rangers on site 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. |
| Wheelchair access | Overlooks and some paths are accessible; confirm current conditions at the visitor center. |
| Managed by | National Park Service (Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park) |
Rules
| Dogs | Allowed |
|---|
Common questions
Common questions
Is Great Falls open?
View from designated overlooks only. Entering the river or climbing near the falls is prohibited. As of September 28, 2026. Hours: Park grounds sunrise to sunset; rangers on site 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily.
How tall is Great Falls?
Great Falls drops about 77 ft.
Can you swim at Great Falls?
No, swimming is not allowed at Great Falls.
How long is the hike to Great Falls?
It's a 0.1 mi hike round trip. Parking: Visitor parking near 72 McBride Avenue Extension, Paterson.
Is there a fee at Great Falls?
Yes. Free entry.
When is Great Falls flowing?
It flows year-round. About 77 ft on the Passaic River; flow varies with upstream rainfall and releases.
What are the rules at Great Falls?
Dogs are allowed.
Nearby
Public land
Just outside: Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park (under 0.1 mi) .
Sources
4
- https://www.nps.gov/pagr/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs manager, access.fee, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, hazardNote, rules.dogs, waterfall.flowMonths)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Falls_(Passaic_River) (accessed September 28, 2026; backs waterbodyName, waterfall.heightFt)
- https://www.nps.gov/pagr/planyourvisit/directions.htm (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.parking, lat/lng)
- https://www.nps.gov/pagr/planyourvisit/hours.htm (accessed September 30, 2026; backs access.hours / access.hikeDistanceMi)
More: New Jersey waterfalls