A Stroll Through Paterson Great Falls

Today was one of those perfect days to be out and about. After getting my hair done downtown, I was thinking of going to my cousin’s house to see what she was up to—and of course, to see her dog Rylo, who is a poodle mix. Love that crazy dog! 🐩😂 She’s literally up the street from the falls, so I figured I could kill two birds with one stone. But nope—she wasn’t home! 😩 She was at work, so I just decided to enjoy my time at the falls instead.

Standing in front of the Great Falls, I had to capture this moment—because how often do you get to see nature’s power up close? The sky was overcast, the air crisp, and the rush of the water created a soothing yet commanding presence. I wasn’t trying to do a full-face selfie, just a little moment of “yeah, I was here” with the falls in the background. It’s wild to think about how much history is tied to this place, from the industrial revolution to now. Even with the modern changes, the falls remain timeless—just like this shot. 😎✨

Since I had my Apple Watch on, I tracked my entire walk. Here are the workout stats it recorded:

• Elevation Gain: 308 ft
• Max Elevation: 186 ft
• Min Elevation: 78 ft
• Calories & Heart Rate:
  • Active Calories: 300 kcal
  • Total Calories: 502 kcal
  • Average Heart Rate: 118 BPM
• Workout Duration & Distance:
  • Time: 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 38 seconds
  • Total Distance: 4.08 miles
  • Average Pace: 33'57" per mile

Even on a cloudy day, the falls look beautiful. There’s something calming about the sound of rushing water, especially with a nice breeze in the air. It wasn’t too cold at first, making it the perfect weather for a stroll. I managed to snap a few photos, and I have to say, the view never gets old. One of my shots captures the falls up close, showing the raw power of the rushing water as it crashes against the rocks. Standing there, watching it all, just makes you appreciate nature a little more.

First off, let’s talk about this hair real quick—because, when did braids get so damn expensive?! 😩 I originally wanted box braids, but when the stylist hit me with a $180 price tag, I was like, “Bitch, what?! No thanks.” So I went with cornrows instead for $70, and honestly, I’m not mad at it. The style is cute, simple, and gets the job done. I’ll take ‘What is cornrows for $70?’ for the win, Alex! 😂 Sometimes, you just gotta make a budget-friendly choice and keep it moving! Also, note to self: Never go on Sundays! The owner wasn’t there, and instead, it was their other family members running the shop. They barely knew what they were doing and didn’t speak much English, so the whole experience was just confusing. Next time, I’ll make sure to go when the owner is around to avoid the struggle. But hey, at least I left with a fresh look, and I even got a cute photo of my new style while I was out. You know when your hair is done, you gotta capture it while it’s still looking crisp!

One thing that stands out in Paterson is the big statue of Alexander Hamilton near the Great Falls. He played a major role in shaping Paterson as an industrial city, taking advantage of the falls to power mills and factories. It’s funny—when I first heard about the Hamilton musical, it didn’t click right away that it was about that Hamilton, the one connected to my own town! We never really learned much about him in school. I made sure to grab a shot of the statue while I was there because, honestly, it’s a cool reminder of how much history is packed into this city. Hamilton really had a vision for Paterson, and walking around the falls, you can still see traces of that old industrial past.

Unfortunately, the bridge leading closer to the falls has been closed for years due to wear and tear. The repairs have been slow, so now you can’t really feel the mist of the water unless you walk to the other side—which I decided to do. And whew, once I got to the other side, it was freezing! 😂 Just from the water alone, you could feel the temperature drop. The mist was hitting me like a kiss from the waterfalls—beautiful, but also like, damn, where’s my jacket?! I also got a great shot from this side, where you can see just how dramatic the drop of the falls is. The sheer power of the water flowing over the rocks always makes me stop and stare for a bit. No matter how many times I visit, it never gets old.

While walking around, I noticed a sign listing the different types of fish found in the Passaic River. I don’t think I would ever eat any of them from this river, though! 😬 According to the sign, the river is home to fish like largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, common carp, American eel, and yellow perch. It’s interesting to see the variety of fish living there, but I’ll pass on any local seafood from these waters.

While walking around, I noticed an old, dried-up path where the water used to flow. The city has since blocked off access, and honestly, I have no idea why. It looked the same, but the trail isn’t maintained, so it’s not safe to explore. Still, it hasn’t changed—it looks just like it did in my childhood lol. I also came across a sign that said Wake Up. It was kind of random, but it made me stop and think for a second. Wake up to what, exactly? The history, the changes, the things we overlook in our everyday routines? Maybe I was reading too much into it, but it definitely caught my attention.

At this point, I was getting tired, so I decided not to go back the way I came—I did not feel like dealing with that hill. Instead, I walked toward the NJ Transit bus station and passed the Paterson Museum, which has those old trains 🚂 outside. I wasn’t even thinking—I should’ve taken some pictures of the trains too! But honestly, it’s nothing new to me lol 😂. Still, it’s crazy to think that Paterson was nothing but mountains before all this modern development. I would love to see what the real Paterson looked like before modernization. I’ve seen old pictures, but stepping back in time to actually experience it, especially with all the old factories 🏭, would be incredible.

Anyway, I’m home now, just finished eating dinner, and I am exhausted lol 😂. Plus, my feet hurt—I definitely didn’t wear the right shoes for all that walking. Lesson learned!

P.S. Spring break is officially over, which means it’s time to return to the land of overpriced textbooks, endless assignments, and pretending to understand lectures while secretly zoning out. Back to the struggle tomorrow… send help. 😩😂