• Paterson New Jersey Great Falls National Historic Site overlooking the falls and building

 The Great Falls – Paterson New Jersey Photography

Photography Hot Spot Location

Patterson Great Falls National Park Photography Hot Spot – McBride Avenue, Paterson, N.J.

Construction is over, and the park is now open!! But you have yet to get all the necessary shots, as you see here. The park will expand, but they are tearing down some old buildings in the rear. Luckily we documented them years ago. You’re not able to get there now. It is all fenced off with security cameras.

Don’t let this stop you from going. One side of the park has the construction completed, but a bridge is closed, and this is where you would typically get your second-best shot. The other side is actively under construction. Although we stopped her mid-day and mid-week, no one was working. (June 2023) The equipment was there and in the way of getting good shots.

You will enjoy this photography location. Be sure to bring your tripod. They did a fabulous job. You used to have a high fence and had to shoot through a hole. Now the wall is not that high, and you can get your long-exposure photos right over it on your tripod. It is a must that you do long exposure here.

Go on a white puffy cloud day, as we did. Any time of year is good; you can’t go wrong, from the ice in the dead of winter to the hot summer days. The main section is where you have a view of the falls. Make sure you go to the other side of the park. That is where you need a high tripod to get over the rails on the bridge.

There are two waterfalls—one on each side of the park. It would be best if you had a high tripod to get a shot over the rails on the walkway. It will shake when people walk on the bridge/walkway, so you need to do long exposures when the park has less activity.   This photography location is a long exposure heaven, so waiting for humans to depart is well worth the patience. THIS IS THE SPOT CURRENTLY CLOSED FOR NOW.

The Great Falls, Paterson, New Jersey Photography Spot

The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, 77 feet (23 m) high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. The falls and surrounding area are protected as part of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, administered by the National Park Service. Congress authorized its establishment in 2009.

One of the United States’ largest waterfalls played a significant role in the early industrial development of New Jersey, starting in the earliest days of the nation. It is part of the Great Falls of Paterson–Garret Mountain National Natural Landmark. It has also been designated as a National Historic Landmark District since 1976. The Great Falls’ raceway and power systems were designated a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1977.

BEST TIME TO GO TO THE PATERSON FALLS

Anytime is a good time to go to this location. We’ve been here winter, spring, summer, and fall, but we live in New Jersey. This location is very well worth going to it multiple times. And if you come from farther away, it’s worth the travel.

HOW LONG TO PHOTOGRAPH

Plan on a few hours here. You can also go back around the falls, through the woods, down to the water, and spend some time there. Unfortunately, the one bridge is still closed. It’s our favorite spot to photograph the waterfall, but you can still get decent shots.

HOW TO GET THERE

FOR YOUR GPS:

72 McBride Avenue Extension
Paterson, NJ 07501

FROM GSP NORTH: Take exit 155P to Route 80 West (Paterson/Grand St./Del Water Gap.) Keep right and take Grand Street exit ramp. Turn left onto Grand Street, then right onto Spruce Street. Continue through the historic district and one traffic light. Turn right onto McBride Avenue Extension, and make an immediate left into the Great Falls Overlook parking area.

FROM GSP SOUTH: Take Exit 159, then make your second right onto I-80 West (Paterson).  Take Exit 57-B for Downtown Paterson and follow the signs. Stay in the right lane and turn onto Marshall Street. Continue through three lights, including one at Spruce Street, where you will see the Paterson Museum. Turn right onto McBride Avenue Extension and immediately left into the Great Falls Overlook parking area at 72 McBride Ave Ext.

Driving Directions: Be aware that it’s a very bumpy road. There are some reports of it closing on occasion.

The Cabo Rojo Lighthouse is open Thursdays through Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of Wednesdays, when it is closed. Entry is free.

Check out their Facebook page.

OTHER PHOTOGRAPHY NEARBY

Check out Crash Boat, one of our other favorite Puerto Rico locations to do photography.

HOW BUSY DOES IT GET?

It gets very busy on the weekends. The parking is limited. Try to go midweek.

RESTAURANTS, CAMPING, WEATHER  & MORE – SEE BELOW

USE camera information photography

PHOTOGRAPHY INFO, PATERSON GREAT FALLS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 

Lens: This area is a wide-angle lens location.

Gear List at a Glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filters, tripod, shutter release, wide and wide-angle lens. CPL filters will help you to create dynamic images. They will make your white puffy clouds whiter, take the silver glare off of water and replace it with a beautiful reflection. You have moving waters at this location so you will want to have your neutral density filters with you to get the long exposure, milky water effect. It is an excellent spot for a ten-stop ND filter. See our ND filter page for more details if you need additional information.

The Great Falls – Paterson New Jersey Photography

Camera Settings:

You will need a tripod and a neutral density filter to capture stunning, long-exposure shots of the milky water at The Great Falls in Patterson, N.J. Your camera settings will vary depending on the lighting conditions, but shoot in manual mode with an ISO of 100 (or the lowest your camera allows) and an aperture of f22 (or the highest number) for the best results.

Use your neutral density filter to reduce the light entering your camera, and take some test shots to determine the appropriate shutter speed. It’s also important to use live view mode to focus and lock up the mirror to prevent camera movement. You can also use a shutter release or timer to avoid shaking while taking the shot. For optimal results, aim for a 2-second exposure when capturing running water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, your exposure time may be limited to 1/15th of a second in bright sunlight.

Consider visiting our store to purchase ND filters with options such as 3.0 for longer exposures in direct sunlight, 1.2 for shorter exposures, or an ND8 for something in between. If you can only afford one, go with the 1.2 option.

See our How to Shoot Waterfall Photography Page for more details.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY INSTRUCTION CLICK HERE

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Photography Magazine Extra only uses Think Tank Camera Bags

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Extra Eyes Photo Tours Photography Instructions at this location

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SURVIVAL FOOD

area information - photography

The Great Falls Paterson NJ Photography

Park and Area Information:

Entrance Fees: There are no entrance fees to the park.

Park personnel will be present at the location and ready to assist from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on Wednesdays through Fridays. Depending on available staff, park rangers may also be present on Saturdays and Sundays during the same time frame.

Portable restrooms are located at the Overlook Park parking lot, accessible from our main address, and are open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, subject to staffing availability.

 The Great Falls Paterson NJ Camping

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The Great Falls Paterson NJ Photography

 

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