Newport Cliff Walk

The Cliff Walk is Newport at its most elemental. Three and a half miles of designated National Recreation Trail run along the eastern shore of Aquidneck Island, with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the rear gardens and sea-facing facades of the Bellevue Avenue mansions on the other. It costs nothing to walk and delivers views that no tour bus or entrance ticket can replicate. The northern section — running from Easton’s Beach down to Ruggles Avenue — is paved, well-maintained, and accessible. The southern half is a different proposition: the path narrows, the surfaces become rocky and uneven, and in places the route requires some navigation. It is considerably more rewarding for it. The full walk from Memorial Boulevard to Land’s End takes around two hours at a relaxed pace, though most people take longer. There is no shame in turning back at the Forty Steps — a stone staircase that descends to the water’s edge and is worth visiting in its own right. Wear proper footwear regardless of which section you plan to walk. The rocks can be slippery after rain. Dogs are welcome on the Cliff Walk and seem to enjoy it considerably. Early morning on a summer weekday is the best combination of light, temperature, and relative solitude.