The center is open from May 15 to November 30.įor some extra fun, plan your trip around the Art in the Park Showcase on Oct. You can also pick up an activity book that kids can complete then return for a Junior Ranger badge.

A variety of literature about the falls is available there. There is a gift shop inside the Welcome Center on the corner of McBride Avenue and Spruce Street. RELATED: Historic NJ Villages That Are Fun for Kids & FamiliesĪccess to the falls is free. For alternate parking options, visit the website. Currently, the Overlook Park parking lot on McBride Avenue is closed. The added federal funding has helped pay for several improvements to the park and continues to provide welcome upgrades. Honoring the beauty of New Jersey’s nature and Hamilton’s handiwork, Paterson Great Falls was declared a national park in 2009 by President Barack Obama. Nearby, a statue of Alexander Hamilton looks on proudly toward the falls. RELATED: A Dozen Easy Fall Hikes in NJ for Families with Small ChildrenĬross the footbridge to continue exploring the falls and surrounding area.Īcross the footbridge, the power plant continues to produce clean, renewable energy for thousands of people today. Stone walls and metal railings keep families safe. Step right up to watch the incredible force of water gushing down, and gaze at the bubbling foam as it makes its way around rocky outcroppings. There is an observation area in Mary Ellen Kramer Park that brings visitors within a couple hundred feet of the aquatic action. If you arrive via Maple Street, a short walk through Mary Ellen Kramer Park leads you to the falls you can still walk over the picturesque bridge to get another perspective. hydroelectric plant, you’ll have to cross a high-span footbridge.

You can approach the falls two ways: If you enter on McBride Avenue near the historic S.U.M. It’s common to find an artist or two capturing the surrounding natural beauty on canvas.

Young and old alike are enthralled by the roar of the river, the gentle spray of the drifting water and, if you’re lucky, the sight of a cheery rainbow. Though the historical importance may go over kids’ heads, the falls are no doubt of interest to visitors of all ages. If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of a rainbow in the falls.

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