Newport Cliff Walk Hiking Guide
The Newport Cliff Walk runs 3.5 miles along the Atlantic Ocean cliffs of Aquidneck Island, passing directly behind Newport's collection of Gilded Age estates on Bellevue Avenue: The Breakers, Ochre Court, Rosecliff, Marble House, and others. The walk has been a public right-of-way since the 19th century, when fishermen and working-class residents successfully defended their traditional access to the shoreline against the estate owners who built their mansions on the bluff above it. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975. The combination of open ocean on one side and Vanderbilt-era architecture on the other is unlike anything else in New England.
The trail is not a wilderness experience. It is a cultural landscape walk in a dense urban context, one of Rhode Island's most visited outdoor destinations, and entirely worth it. The ocean views are unobstructed and genuinely dramatic from the exposed cliff sections, particularly in the northern half where the trail runs closest to the water. The mansion facades visible from the trail are the real ocean sides of the estates, unmanicured and architecturally raw in a way that the front-door tours do not quite capture. For a first-time visitor to Newport, combining the Cliff Walk with a mansion tour and a meal on Thames Street covers the city's essential character in a day.
What to Expect
The trail begins at the northern end on Memorial Boulevard, near First Beach (Easton's Beach). The first 1.5 miles to the 40 Steps is paved or improved gravel, largely flat, and accessible. This section runs directly behind several of the largest estate properties and offers the most consistent views of both the ocean and the mansion grounds. The 40 Steps is a set of concrete steps descending from the cliff top to a ledge just above the water, a historic gathering spot and the most photographed feature of the Cliff Walk.
Beyond the 40 Steps, the trail continues as improved gravel and natural path through Narragansett Avenue, the midpoint of the walk. From Narragansett Avenue south, the character of the trail changes fundamentally. The paved surface ends, the path narrows, and within a quarter-mile the trail becomes a scramble over large, irregular granite boulders deposited along the base of the cliff by glaciation and storm activity. The scramble is sustained, not occasional: this section requires using hands for balance, stepping between rocks of varying stability, and maintaining constant attention to footing. This is where most people who have trouble with the trail get into trouble.
The coast geology throughout the walk is granite, the same stone that underlies most of Rhode Island. The cliffs are not dramatic in height (20 to 40 feet in most sections) but the exposure is real: the Atlantic is immediately below, with no beach buffer between the trail and the water. Surf conditions change with weather. After a storm, wave action can splash or surge across the southern scramble section; in those conditions the trail is dangerous and walking it is not advisable.
Birdwatching along the Cliff Walk is underrated. The ocean-facing cliffs provide a vantage point for watching pelagic species (loons, scoters, gannets, eiders) offshore during the fall migration, particularly from October through December. The shrubby vegetation above the cliff edge provides cover for migrating warblers, sparrows, and thrushes in spring and fall. Cormorants roost on offshore rocks visible from the trail. The Cliff Walk is a legitimate birding destination alongside its better-known role as a tourist attraction.
Best Trails
Full Cliff Walk
3.5 mi, Point-to-Point, Easy-Moderate
The full walk runs from Memorial Boulevard (north) to Bailey's Beach (south), passing the complete sequence of Gilded Age estates and the full range of terrain from paved to boulder scramble. The easy-moderate rating covers the northern section; the southern boulder scramble is strenuous and requires comfort on uneven, technical terrain. Most visitors complete the northern paved section to the 40 Steps (1.5 miles) and return the same way, treating it as an easy 3-mile out-and-back with the best views and the most comfortable footing. Completing the full route to Bailey's Beach requires strong footing, appropriate footwear, and dry conditions.
Walking north to south (Memorial Boulevard to Bailey's Beach) puts the hardest terrain at the end when you are most tired. Walking south to north (Bailey's Beach start) puts the scramble at the beginning and finishes on the paved section near the bus stops and parking. Either direction works; the views are equally good in both directions.
When to Visit
Spring (April through May) offers comfortable temperatures, fewer crowds than summer, and good birding as migrants move through. The cliff edges can be windy in April; a layer is recommended even on warm days. Some sections of the southern scramble may be slippery from winter erosion or storm damage; check current conditions before attempting the full walk.
Summer (June through August) is the busiest period by a significant margin. Newport's tourism season is in full swing, and the Cliff Walk receives thousands of visitors on summer weekends. The northern paved section between Memorial Boulevard and the 40 Steps becomes crowded enough that passing requires patience, particularly in July. Early morning (before 9 a.m.) is considerably quieter. Summer temperatures in Newport are moderated by the ocean and rarely oppressive, making this a more comfortable warm-weather walk than an inland forest trail.
Fall (September through October) is the best overall time to visit. Crowds drop meaningfully after Labor Day while the weather stays cooperative through October. The ocean light in September is exceptional: clear and low-angled, which makes the mansion facades and the cliff geometry look better than they do in flat summer light. October brings the fall migration along the coast, and the Cliff Walk is one of the better coastal vantage points in Rhode Island for watching raptors and songbirds move through.
Winter (November through March) sees the Cliff Walk remain open but often rough. Nor'easters can damage sections of the trail, particularly the southern scramble. After major storms, sections may be temporarily closed for safety; check the cliffwalk.com website or RI DEM alerts before visiting in winter.
Getting There and Logistics
The northern access point is at Memorial Boulevard (Route 138A) near First Beach in Newport. Street parking is available on Memorial Boulevard and surrounding streets; metered parking is the primary option and fills quickly in summer. The RIPTA Route 67 bus connects Newport to Providence with stops near Bellevue Avenue; the walk from the bus stop to the Memorial Boulevard trailhead is a reasonable distance through the Newport street grid. Check ripta.com for current schedules.
The 40 Steps access point at Narragansett Avenue provides a mid-trail entry option, with street parking on nearby residential streets. The southern access at Bailey's Beach has limited public parking and is primarily used for car shuttles by groups walking the full route point-to-point.
There is no fee to access the Cliff Walk as of 2026. The Newport mansions along the route require separate admission tickets; the Preservation Society of Newport County (newportmansions.org) manages tours of The Breakers, Marble House, Rosecliff, and others. Mansion tickets are available online and at the individual properties.
Planning Tips
- Footwear matters on the southern scramble section. Trail runners or hiking shoes with good grip are appropriate; sandals, flip-flops, and dress shoes make the boulder section genuinely dangerous. The northern paved section is comfortable in street shoes.
- The Cliff Walk is unshaded for most of its length. Sunscreen and a hat are worth bringing on sunny days, particularly in summer. The wind off the ocean can be deceptively strong; a windbreaker is useful in shoulder seasons.
- If the primary goal is seeing the mansion facades and ocean views without the boulder scramble, the northern paved section from Memorial Boulevard to the 40 Steps and back covers the most dramatic scenery in a 3-mile, easy round trip.
- Newport's parking situation in July and August is genuinely difficult. The RIPTA bus from Providence or a stay in Newport that eliminates the need to move a car makes the visit much smoother.
- For planning a full Newport day: the Cliff Walk in the morning, a mansion tour midday, and the waterfront in the afternoon is a practical sequence that avoids the worst of the midday trail heat and crowds.
- Read checking conditions before you go before visiting after storms. The RI DEM and cliffwalk.com both post alerts when trail sections are closed for storm damage.
The Cliff Walk is one of the genuinely unusual public lands experiences in New England: free, historical, dramatic, and accessible to anyone who can walk a mile on pavement. Practice Leave No Trace principles throughout, including staying on the established trail and not climbing down the cliff faces to access the water below.