HomeNew JerseyGarfield › Passaic River Falls

Passaic River Falls

4.5 ★★★★★ 79 Google reviews · Running trail in Garfield, New Jersey · Open 24 hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Open 24 hours

Confirmed from Passaic River Falls' own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Open 24hScenicTrailhead parkingQuiet

Small park known for its scenic waterfall on the Passaic River, plus walking paths.

What runners say about Passaic River Falls

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (79 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 8 mentions

“Very nice scenic area with a small park that overlooks the Dundee Dam as well as part of what was once the historic Dundee textile canal (from which the falls derive their name).”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 4 mentions

“Beautiful and peaceful spot, the sound of the rushing water and the scenic views make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature 😍”

I have lived in Garfield for 10 years. Whenever I get tired of the work of the city life and want to hear the sound of running water, I run here. I wish the city would take better advantage of this place and build more places to sit.

★★★★☆ — Jl , Jun 2025

Beautiful and peaceful spot, the sound of the rushing water and the scenic views make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature 😍

★★★★★ — Bashayr , May 2025

Nice little walk way along the Passaic River. Small kiddie playground. Plenty of places to sit and watch the drag races along River Dr. See people fishing near the falls. Plenty of stores to run into across the street. Plenty of parking around. It's a nice spot to take the dog for a walk.

★★★★★ — Glenn , Aug 2020

I enjoy going to these Falls with my daughter. She rollerblades while I walk behind her. The roaring sound of the Falls is so soothing and watching the ducks-sometimes in a row 😂 is cute. The sunset is beautiful this time of the year. There’s always parking.

★★★★★ — Vivian , Oct 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 79 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 14 mentions

“Very nice scenic area with a small park that overlooks the Dundee Dam as well as part of what was once the historic Dundee textile canal (from which the falls derive their name).”

More trails like this →

🅿️ Trailhead parking 6 mentions

“There’s a small playground here if you have small children and there are ample benches in that area which is near the parking not the falls.”

More trails like this →

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 4 mentions

“Beautiful and peaceful spot, the sound of the rushing water and the scenic views make it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature 😍”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Passaic River Falls

The practical stuff

  • AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners

Hours

Monday Open 24 hours
Tuesday Open 24 hours
Wednesday Open 24 hours
Thursday Open 24 hours
Friday Open 24 hours
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sunday Open 24 hours

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Passaic River Falls

River Dr, Garfield, NJ 07026

Get directions

Running trails near Garfield

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Post Ford Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 25 reviews

Garfield, NJ

under a mile away

Dundee Island Preserve

4.1 ★★★★☆ 83 reviews

Clifton, NJ

Scenic

Nature preserve good for kids with a river.

under a mile away

Randolph Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 42 reviews

Clifton, NJ

under a mile away

Dahnert's Lake County Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 789 reviews

Garfield, NJ

Scenic

10-acre park around a pond with walking paths, gazebos, play structures & a roller hockey rink.

1.3 miles away

Weasel Brook Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 1,179 reviews

Clifton, NJ

Scenic

Recreation area with horseshoe pits, a playground, splash pad, pond, basketball courts & ball field.

1.4 miles away

Weasel Brook Lake

4.8 ★★★★★ 42 reviews

Clifton, NJ

1.5 miles away

All running trails in Garfield, NJ →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.