The Great Falls in Paterson New Jersey Photography

Where to Take Pictures

Patterson Great Falls National Park Photography Hot Spot

Construction is over, and the park is now open! 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.

2026 UPDATE – The Walking Bridge is closed due to ongoing construction. Check thier site for updates. We update our information every few months, so they tend to have better information than we do. I.

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.

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 in it. 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 a 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. The bridge or walkway shakes when people walk on it, so you need to use long exposures when the park has less activity. This photography location is a haven for long exposure photography, so waiting for humans to depart is well worth the patience. This is the bridge that is 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, dating back to the nation’s earliest days. 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 GREAT FALLS IN PATERSON

Any time is a good time to visit this location. We’ve been here winter, spring, summer, and fall, but we live in New Jersey. This location is well worth visiting more than once. 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 from other angles.

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 the 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.

DRONES

Flying drones on lands managed by the National Park Service is strictly prohibited unless you have obtained explicit written consent from the park superintendent. Moreover, the chances of receiving such approval from the National Park Service are pretty slim.

PARKING

Overlook Park Parking Zone: The largest parking area is located at 72 McBride Avenue Extension. From here, you can see the falls from a distance. If this lot is full, there’s extra parking nearby on weekends, just 50 yards down the road.

Maple Street Access: To get a closer view of the falls, head to the viewing platform at Mary Ellen Kramer Park. Usually, it’s a short walk from Overlook Park via the footbridge, but the bridge has been closed since late 2021.

RESTAURANTS, CAMPING, WEATHER & MORE – SEE BELOW

PATERSON GREAT FALLS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK PHOTOGRAPHY INFO,

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

Gear List at a Glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filters, tripod, shutter release, wide-angle lens. CPL filters will help you create dynamic images. They will make your white puffy clouds appear even whiter, remove the silver glare from the water near the falls, and replace it with a beautiful reflection. You have moving waters at this location, so it’s essential to have your neutral density filters with you to achieve the long exposure and milky water effect, as seen in our images. It is an excellent spot for a ten-stop ND filter.

The Great Falls – Paterson, New Jersey Photography

Camera Settings:

To create dynamic long-exposure shots of the milky water at The Great Falls in Patterson, N.J., you will need a tripod and a neutral density filter. Your camera settings will vary depending on the lighting conditions, but for optimal results, shoot in manual mode with an ISO of 100 (or the lowest setting allowed by your camera) and an aperture of f/22 (or the largest number).

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 photographing running water. If you don’t have a neutral density filter, your exposure time may be limited to 1/15th of a second or so 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 a balance between the two. If you can only afford one, go with the 1.2 option.

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

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH WATERFALLS

Photography Magazine Extra only uses Think Tank Camera Bags

private jet photo tours a picture of the sky dynamic colors

Extra Eyes Photo Tours Photography Instructions in New Jersey.

SURVIVAL FOOD

Paterson Great Falls 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, Monday through Friday. Depending on the availability of 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.