8 Things to Know: Rhode Island Cliff Walk

The DL: The Cliff Walk is set on the eastern shore of Newport Rhode Island and was originally developed in 1880 and took over the next 50 years to really improve the walk to where it is today. In 1975, the Cliff Walk was designated New England’s first National Recreation Trail. The path includes panoramic ocean views on one side and historical mansions on the other. This year was my first time visiting, below are 10 things I learned.

1. The Cliff Walk is free and open to the public!

The walk is along the eastern shore and through a national historic district. There is street metered parking right by the Easton beach and main entrance of the cliff walk. There is no fee and it is open to the public even to your pup! If panning on doing the entire walk it should take 2.5-3 hours. Open sunrise to sunset.

2. The 3.5 miles is each way

The total length one way is around 3.5 miles so there and back is about 7 miles which when advertised you see a lot of the 3.5 miles but nothing saying that is just one way.

3. Be prepared to walk and climb over rocks on the Cliff Walk

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Also, 2/3 of the trip is a walking trail but there are parts in the middle and the end that you’ll have to climb over the rocky terrain to keep going. Just to note, some of the rocks are flat but others are a little more tricky. So if wearing heels, pushing a stroller, or if you use a wheelchair or assistive device, plan on not completing the full walk.

4. There is a public restroom

Right by the forty steps which is a popular landmark, there are public restrooms off of Narragansett Ave where it dead-ends into the cliff walk.

5. You can start in the middle

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We started at Memorial Blvd. and Easton Beach which is the start. If you want to start further down other options include Narragansett Ave, Webster Street, Ruggles Ave, Wetmore Ave, Ledge Road (difficult terrain), Bellevue Ave.

If only doing a part of the walk you might want to start at Ruggles Ave and exit before ledge road so you can see a few of the mansions and the ocean view.

6. How to get back on the Cliff Walk

You can take the cliff walk back or walk down Bellevue avenue and see the mansions from the front. If you are done walking, you should be able to catch the trolley that is around $2 per person or there is always the option to uber.

7. Learn about the public Mansions

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In front of most of the mansions, you will see a little wooden post with a QR code – scan and it will tell you all about the mansion you are passing. I thought these were really helpful and interesting. Some of the most notable include The Breakers, Rose Cliff, Marble House, and the Chinese tea house. There is also a cliff walk app you can download but I didn’t.

8. See Salve Regina University

Known to be one of the most beautiful campuses of New England they have over 80 acres of campus. You can see some of it from the Cliff Walk which is beautiful.

If planning to visit the Cliff Walk during COVID, plan to wear a mask. Pretty much everyone on the trail had one on and there were no issues with spacing when we visited during Thanksgiving week.