Great Falls of the Passaic
A 77-foot urban waterfall roaring through a basalt gorge in New Jersey — one of the most powerful falls in the eastern United States.
About this spectacle
The Great Falls of the Passaic River thunder through a narrow basalt gorge in the heart of Paterson, New Jersey, dropping roughly 77 feet in a dramatic curtain of white water. Standing on the viewing platforms, visitors feel the mist and hear the roar before they see the falls themselves. The dark volcanic rock walls frame the cascade with striking industrial-era bridges and mill ruins nearby, creating a layered scene of raw natural power set against American industrial history. After heavy rainfall the volume surges dramatically, turning the falls into a churning mass of foam. In winter, ice formations cling to the rock faces and bridge abutments, transforming the gorge into a sculptural frost landscape. The surrounding Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park keeps the site easily accessible by foot from the city center.
When to go
Jan — Dec, peak Dec — Apr
Getting there
Nearest airport: EWR. Nearest city: Newark.
Booking options
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