Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in New Jersey. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Paterson Great Falls
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Paterson Great Falls. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Scenic Viewpoints (1)
Waterfalls (2)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Paterson Great Falls the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:53 PM | 242° | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:31 PM | 254° | 10h 39m |
| March | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:04 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:18 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:36 PM | 284° | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:40 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:08 PM | 296° | 14h 28m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:31 PM | 303° | 15h 06m |
| July | 5:38 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:28 PM | 300° | 14h 50m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:57 PM | 290° | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:38 AM | 7:14 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:08 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:18 PM | 259° | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:26 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:40 PM | 246° | 9h 55m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:59 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:30 PM | 239° | 9h 15m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.9158, -74.1802); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Paterson Great Falls, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:14 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.0 | 10° |
| March | 4:26 AM – 5:36 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:25 AM – 4:35 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:22 AM – 3:42 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 10:39 PM – 3:09 AM | 4.5 | 20° |
| July | 10:30 PM – 1:50 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 9:41 PM – 11:51 PM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:52 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 7:49 PM – 7:49 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.
Weather & best time to visit
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=40.91475800178142&lon=-74.1678490947591#.VusP4uIrK71
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Getting there
From: Garden State Parkway (New Jersey) North: Take exit 155P on left to Route 19 TO WEST Route 80 Paterson. South: Take Exit 159 (Saddlebrook) on your right. After taking the exit, make your second right onto I-80 West (Paterson). From: Interstate 80 I-80 West: Take Exit 57 A-B. Taking (Exit 57- B) (Downtown Paterson) follow the Downtown Paterson sign. I-80 East: Take (Exit 57- B), take exit Route 80 west Grand St./ Del Water Gap KEEP RIGHT exit. Stay to the right for Grand Street exit ramp.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Food
- Dining
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
Nearby parks
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