Paterson Great Falls by Bus: A Car-Free Day Trip

The Passaic River drops 77 feet here in one wide curtain, and entry is free. Grounds are open sunrise to sunset, and some paths close in winter. The footbridge linking Overlook Park to Mary Ellen Kramer Park reopened on February 19, 2026: 100 feet long, two feet wider than the span it replaced, and named for the late Congressman Bill Pascrell. Rangers lead free walks at 2 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday to Sunday, staffing permitting; call 973-523-0370 or 201-458-3475 that morning. There is no visitor center and no indoor facilities, and the portable toilets near the overlook open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., staffing permitting.

Ceviche and rotisserie chicken are the reason to build the day around lunch. Griselda's holds the corner at 81 Market Street: ceviche clásico $17.95, ceviche mixto $20.95, lomo saltado $18.99, a whole rotisserie chicken $25.99. Budget $25 to $35 a person with a drink and tip, and share plates rather than order one each. Doors open at 9 a.m. daily; Friday to Sunday it stays open to 9 p.m. Phone 973-225-0331 before a long ride.

The 190 leaves Port Authority Bus Terminal and sets you down at Market Street in Paterson in about an hour; the same stop serves the ride home. Weekend buses come every 15 to 20 minutes, and Port Authority requires a ticket before boarding, so buy in the NJ Transit app or at a machine. The fare is charged by zone, not as a flat rate: the 190's timetable prices a ride to or from New York from $4.20 for two zones to $8.45 for five, so budget $7.30 to $8.45 each way, or $73.50 for a five-zone 10-trip book. Market Street leads west to Overlook Park in about 15 minutes on foot.