A walking trail list for Newport, RI would not be complete without the Newport Cliff Walk. The walk has become an itinerary requirement of out-of-town visitors young and old. During the annual jazz festival, the cliff walk is very alive with people looking for spectacular ocean views amongst gilded age mansions. It is a sight to behold. Fortunately, you will enjoy the Cliff Walk and many other excellent trails in your day-to-day life when you find a home in Newport. There are trails well traveled and there are a few lesser known trails where you and your family kind find a little solitude in the Ocean State. Here are some of the best walking & hiking trails in & around Newport, RI.
Walking Trails
Newport Cliff Walk: distance 3.5 mile
It is estimated that over a quarter million people walk this beautiful and historic walking trail along the Atlantic Ocean. The walk begins on the western end of Easton’s Beach and runs south ending at the east end of Bailey’s Beach. About two thirds of the trail are easy to traverse. Walkers will need proper footwear when venturing toward the southern half, as areas can be rough going with boulders and other natural obstacles to traverse. Rock surfaces can be slippery and some sections pass by 70 foot drops from the ocean cliffs. Watch where you step! The trail was designated a National Recreation Trail in 1975.
Memorial Blvd. to Forty Steps: distance 1.3 mile, 2.6 mile round-trip
The Cliff Walk is divided into five unique sections. The Memorial Blvd. to Forty Steps section is perfect for your daily casual walk or run. When you reach the 40 steps you will be walking the same steps used by servants, locals, and tourists since the 1800s. You can celebrate Rocky Balboa style at the summit. He climbed 72 stone steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art while training for the big fight in the 1972 film “Rocky”. You’ll have 40 stone steps to climb (but 80 steps total up and back). Please wear proper footwear, watch your step and be sensible. The steps can be very slippery.
Fort Adams Bay Walk: distance 2.2 mile loop
The trail running around Fort Adams is very popular with walkers, birders, and runners. Dogs can join in on the fun when properly leashed. The west side of the walk overlooks the east passage to the bay and provides exquisite views of the setting sun over Conanicut Island. Three lighthouses can be seen during your walk: Castle Hill Lighthouse, Beavertail Lighthouse, and Rose Island Lighthouse. Weather permitting, you will lose yourself in the tranquility of clear skies and saltwater air as you watch boats and yachts passing by. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-17. Parking is free, and there is a courtesy dock in front of the park visitor center for pickups and drop offs by boat.
Hiking Trails
Ballard Park : distance 1+ miles
There is a 13 acre nature preserve in the heart of Newport. It is on the site of a former granite quarry and was donated to the state in 1990. The five trails wandering through the park lead hikers past imposing rock ledges, over wetlands and streams on sections of boardwalks, and upwards to three scenic overlooks. Some trails are rugged and steep. There are local events at the park organized by Friends of Ballard Park including the Annual Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour and the Illuminated Garden in February. The Friends of Ballard Park was organized in 1996 “to protect, preserve and maintain Ballard Park”.
Beavertail State Park: distance 2.3 mile loop
The trail in Beavertail State Park in Jamestown, RI is well frequented by hikers, runners, and walkers. The trail follows the coastline and also wanders through the woods. The trail isn’t marked so you will need a good sense of direction. The trail in the wooded area can be very muddy and overgrown at different times throughout the year. But there are lots of birds, beautiful views of the ocean and a lighthouse.
Sakonnet Greenway Trail: distance 10+ miles
There are over 10 miles of trails on Aquidneck Island to enjoy in Portsmouth and Middletown thanks to the efforts of the Aquidneck Land Trust. There are many parking areas and trailheads to enter the trail. The trail passes through active farmland, wetlands, and forest. Dogs are permitted when properly leashed. Horses are also permitted on the trails with a few exceptions. If you plan your hike just right, you’ll finish at Newport Vineyards and Taproot Brewing Co. in Middletown and share a bottle of Gemini Red with your friends or a draft of Imperial Pumpkin Ale to celebrate a fine autumn hike. Be aware the wine will be in disguise for Halloween, the label reads Witches Brew this time of the year (but there’s no disguising pumpkin beer, what you see is what you get).
We look forward to helping you with all of your real estate needs in Newport and surrounding areas of Rhode Island. Contact Teri Degnan Real Estate & Consulting today!
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