Great Falls Paddle

Officially called the Great Falls of the Passaic this is the reason that Paterson exists. George Washington and Alexander Hamilton saw the potential of this place in 1792 for an industrial city harnessing the power of the Great Falls. For 100 years the water provide power to a string of factories that lined the river making everything from locomotives, Colt 45 revolvers to silk.
This area was declaired Great Falls National Park last year but is awaiting funding to be developed. This is a view from above a few weeks ago when there was a bit to much water to paddle safely in. It has calmed down considerably as you can see.

I had been waiting for an opportunity to paddle around the city with a new paddling partner, Jim Riley who I met the first day out with our cadets on the Passaic. Jim is part of the Ivanhoe Artists, who meet in one of the old pump houses of the raceway system. They are dedicated to the development and support of the visual and performing arts in Paterson. carried our kayaks down into "the valley of the rocks" and understood the meaning of the label. Its pretty amazing sitting at the base of the falls. There was a strong current and rapids the first mile downstream and we both got a little wet. Our top speed through the rapids was 10.7 mph.

Here is one of the old railroad bridges that is still in use. The current has now slowed considerably. We passed a number of people fishing from shore and in boats. We also passed many water birds including Great Blue Herons, Little Green Heron and Snowy Egrets. Its good to see the river recovering and a source of life and RE-creation for people and wildlife alike.

We paddled around Paterson, under Rt. 80, Rt. 46, the Garden State Parkway and along Route 21 to the Dundee Dam. This Dam was constructed to back up water for the Dundee Canal in Passaic that provided water for the factory systems in the city of Passaic. Below the dam the Passaic River is tidal.

Berry Creek Paddle

Tonight I paddled with my friend Richard Narramore from Laurel Hill Park up the Hackensack River to Berry Creek. We didn't know how far up it we could go but ended up traveling about 4 miles up until it ended in an old landfill. This is urban paddling at it best. Under NJ transit commuter railroad brides, through salt march, under the NJ turnpike and Rt. 3, behind Giant Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack, around old landfills and industrial areas.

Here is Richard with Rt. 3 in the background. We both always wanted to paddle up this waterway that we have always seen. It was amazingly beautiful and in the midst of the NY metro area a wilderness oasis.

I'm feeling more comfortable in the "Spring Run" and enjoying paddling it. It tracks very well in tide and wind and I continue to work on my forward stroke. Here we are paddling back after we got to the end.

Out track is below with thanks for technical help from my son Ben. Our overall distanct was 13.1 miles and average moving speed 3.7 mph. We had an incoming tide going upriver and were paddling against the tide and wind going back.