Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park

About

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park sits in the middle of Paterson, New Jersey, built around the Great Falls of the Passaic River and the mill district that grew up beside it. The park protects the falls overlook, the old raceway system that once powered Paterson's textile and machine mills, and several blocks of the surrounding historic district, which the City of Paterson also has a hand in managing.

Most visits center on Overlook Park, a short walk from the parking area on McBride Avenue Extension, where you can see the falls from above and, by way of a set of stairs, from the lawn below. A free self-guided walking route called the Mill Mile covers the mill district and is available as an app, on the Mill Mile website, and as a printed pamphlet from the ranger station. Rangers work out of a two-story brick administration building at the main park address on a seasonal schedule; when they're not inside, they set up a table near the park or walk the grounds.

There's no restroom at the overlook itself. The nearest accessible bathroom is at the Paterson Museum, a separate institution about a mile away at 2 Market Street, so plan a stop there if you'll need one during the visit. The museum keeps its own hours and accessibility details and asks to be contacted directly.

Paterson can be reached from I-80 or the Garden State Parkway, and the park's directions page routes drivers straight to the Great Falls Overlook lot on McBride Avenue Extension. The park's own history pages also cover Lambert Castle and the old hydroelectric plant as related stops in Paterson's industrial story, for visitors who want to extend the trip beyond the falls.

Accessibility

Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is accessible with assistance, not fully accessible on your own. Overlook Park has accessible parking spots, and the paved route to the falls overlook works for wheelchair users, but some nearby city sidewalks are narrow or steep.

Park at the Great Falls Overlook lot off McBride Avenue Extension, reached from I-80 or the Garden State Parkway. The lot has accessible parking spaces. From there, paved paths lead to the overlook; getting down to the lawn below requires a set of stairs, so wheelchair users and anyone who can't manage stairs should plan to view the falls from the overlook level.

Most of the route the park uses for programs is paved and wheelchair accessible, though some sections have short inclines and some city sidewalks nearby are narrow or steep. Where a stretch isn't passable, the park says an alternate route adds about two minutes. No wheelchairs are available to borrow at the park, so bring your own or arrange a rental beforehand.

There's no restroom at the overlook. The nearest accessible bathroom is at the Paterson Museum, a separate facility about a mile away at 2 Market Street. Call ahead if you'll need it, since the museum isn't run by the park.

For visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing, the park's ranger videos and virtual talks include closed captioning, and the free self-guided Mill Mile tour comes as a printed pamphlet, an app, or a website. For blind and low-vision visitors, a Braille park brochure is available on request at the ranger station, the Mill Mile tour also comes in an audio version, and ranger-talk videos include audio narration. Service animals are welcome throughout the park and its trails on a six-foot leash; the park follows the ADA definition, so emotional support and companion animals don't qualify.

Rangers work out of the two-story brick building at the main park address on a seasonal schedule. Call 973-523-0370 ahead of a visit that depends on a specific accommodation, since staffing and conditions change, and check the park's current conditions page for closures or construction before you go.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in New Jersey

• Atlantic City Boardwalk (Atlantic City)
• Princeton University Art Museum (Princeton)
• Adventure Aquarium (Camden)
• Battleship New Jersey (Camden)
• Liberty Science Center (Jersey City)
• New Jersey State Museum (Trenton)

Photo credits

• Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park sign with the roaring falls and bridge visible behind it.: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• Overlook Park at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, official NPS photo.: National Park Service, Public domain (U.S. National Park Service)
• Visitors line a flat railed boardwalk overlook above the misty Great Falls of the Passaic River.: Ccrabb1948, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• The Great Falls of the Passaic River cascading past a brick powerhouse and arched footbridge.: FirozAnsari, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)