The national historic park is known for its 77-foot waterfall into the Passaic River.
The 16-year-old was stranded on the rock, shivering, as a rescue raft attached to a rope on shore was able to reach her.
Officials say she was visibly distressed. An officer who helped rescue the teen could be seen showing her compassion and offering her a hug.
The victim was brought aboard by rescuers and taken safely to shore.
Person rescued from base of Paterson Great Falls
"First of all you could see the whitewater down there, there's a lot of current, there's a lot of shallow areas that have sharp rocks that could affect our inflatable boats, so it's pretty technical, we have to make sure we have primary rescue teams in place, as well as backup teams as well just in case something goes wrong," said Paterson Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Andrew Ricciardi. "A very dangerous operation."
The victim's condition did not appear to be life-threatening.
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) - for free confidential emotional support 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You can also reach the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or the Crisis Text Line by texting "START" to 741741.
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