Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Things To Do Near Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is a great place to take some time to see an important area of influence of early American industries. The Passaic River and the Great Falls were major contributors to harnessing water power for industrial use and helped drive the Industrial Revolution on the East Coast. 

Hiking Trails

• Paterson Falls Park Trails

  Paterson Falls Park Trails is a loop trail located near Paterson, NJ. The trail is a set of stairs and walkways that lead to an observation area to see the cascades of Paterson Falls on the Passaic River. These falls are 77 feet high and are some of the largest falls in the U.S. They are a designated a National Historic Landmark and a National Natural Landmark.

  Location

  Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, 72 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ 07501

  Length

  0.8 miles

  Intensity

  Easy

• High Mountain Summit Loop

  High Mountain Summit Loop is a loop trail located near Wayne, NJ, that passes alongside a lake. The trail is a multi-use trail for both hiking and biking, but it is a rocky trail with steep inclines in some areas. It features great scenic views of NYC. 

  Location

  High Mountain Park Preserve, 100 University Dr, Wayne, NJ 07470

  Length

  4.7 mile

  Intensity

  Moderate

Sightseeing

• Statue of Liberty National Monument

  The Statue of Liberty National Monument was declared a national monument in 1924 and is comprised of both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The statue was a gift from France and was a joint enterprise between France and the U.S., with France designing the statue and the U.S. designing the pedestal. The entire monument was completed and erected in 1894. Visitors can tour inside the statue and also visit the Statue of Liberty Park and the Museum. Ellis Island was an immigration station that was open for more than 60 years until it closed in 1954.

  It is located on the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, and during its use, it saw millions of immigrants arrive in New York City. Ellis Island contains many fascinating exhibits, such as the processing station at the National Immigration Museum, and the Family History Center, where you can see arrival records of the immigrants.

  Location

  Liberty Island, NYC, NY

• Brooklyn Bridge

  If given the opportunity, everyone should take a walking tour of the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge is a hybrid cable suspension bridge that spans the East River between Manhattan Island and Brooklyn on Long Island. It was opened in 1883 and was the longest suspension bridge in the world at the time, with a total length of 5,989 feet from one end to the other, a span of 1,595.5 feet over the water and a height of 127 feet above mean high water.

  The bridge has had several design reconfigurations to reflect the changing transportation needs of the city and to also renovate and repair various structures. The pedestrian walkway is around 1.1 miles from end to end. Sunset is a beautiful time to walk across, and you can see the views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Statue of Liberty against both the sunset and the lights of the city.

  Location

  Manhattan side - Park Row and Centre Street; Brooklyn - Tillary Street and Boerum Place.

Museums

• Newark Museum

  As New Jersey’s largest museum, Newark Museum houses many fine collections of contemporary, American, African, and Asian artwork, along with art from the Americas and other parts of the world. Their Tibetan collection is one of the best in the world. Besides displaying works of art, the Newark Museum includes the Dreyfuss Planetarium and the Victoria Hall of Science, where you will find an amazing 70,000-specimen collection. 

  Location

  49 Washington St, Newark, NJ 07102

• Metropolitan Museum of Art

  The Metropolitan Museum of Art has been in operation since 1880. Measuring 2 million square feet, this is a very large museum that is spread out over 11.5 acres of land within Central Park. The museum sees more than 4 million visitors each year. The collections run the gamut from pre-history to the present, with 2,500 Old Master, Impressionist, and Post-Impressionist paintings. They have the best collection of Egyptian art and artifacts that originate from outside Cairo, including the Temple of Dendur. The museum includes popular attractions like the Costume Institute, the American and Lehmann Wings, and the Rooftop Garden, plus the awe-inspiring 29 period rooms. 

  Location

  1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• The Barrow

  You will have a great time eating at The Barrow with their fun-themed meals. For example, in the spring they have a Mad Hatter theme. Some of their signature dishes include appetizers of deviled eggs, artichoke and spinach dip, and cornbread; entrees of salmon tartar, Jersey eggs benedict, chicken and waffles, and short ribs; and desserts of brioche bread pudding and molten chocolate cake.

  Location

  1296 Van Houten Ave Clifton, NJ 07013

• Rumba Cubana

  The Rumba Cubana serves traditional Cuban cuisine. Some of their popular dishes are their appetizers of croquetas de jamon and guava and cheese empanadas, entrees of fried calamari and the un poquito de todo platter, and desserts of flan de coco and cheesecake guayaba. They are open for lunch and dinner.

  Location

  2 South Pkwy Clifton, NJ 07014

• Off the Hangar

  Off the Hangar is a fashion clothing store for women and men that also offers interior furnishings. The store has been open since 2010, and the owners are helpful and provide boutique services of interior design.

  Location

  12 Linden St Ste B Newark, NJ 07102

• Fortress of Solitude

  This establishment is a favorite destination for comic book fans. They specialize in old and new comics at fair prices, and they also offer related merchandise like collectibles, figures, films, and music.

  Location

  53 University Ave Newark, NJ 07102

How To Get To Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

From Philadelphia, take Interstate I-95 and then take Exit 11 for the Garden State Parkway. Take Exit 155 A for NJ-19 toward I-80/Paterson and continue onto NJ-19 N to the Grand Street exit in Paterson. Take Spruce Street to the park.

From New York City, take the NY-495 W/Lincoln Tunnel via the ramp to New Jersey. Continue on NJ-495 and NJ-3 to Grand Street in Paterson. Take the Grand Street exit, and then take Spruce Street to the park.

Address

72 McBride Ave, Paterson, NJ 07501

Fee: Entry fee $0

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is a natural gem inside the large urban hub of New Jersey and New York City. Visitors can not only enjoy all that the park has to offer, like access to the Passaic River and the Paterson Great Falls, but they are also close to eastern New Jersey and the boroughs of New York City. Taking an RV to travel in allows you to drive easily to all your destinations.