Cliff Walk: The Forty Steps Reviews (Newport, Rhode Island)

One of Rhode Island's best towns and popular tourist destination

Indianapolis, Indiana

December 30, 2012

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Best of IgoUgo We made our visit to Providence short so that we could spend the majority of our day in Newport. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful seaside towns in all of New England. Newport is about an hour drive south of Providence. As we left the ...Read more We made our visit to Providence short so that we could spend the majority of our day in Newport. It is perhaps one of the most beautiful seaside towns in all of New England. Newport is about an hour drive south of Providence. As we left the mainland, we entered Narragansett Bay. The bay is New England’s largest estuary and is mostly within the state of Rhode Island. Some portions extend into Massachusetts. There are over thirty islands within Narragansett Bay. We crossed the Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge that connects the mainland with Conanicut Island, Narragansett’s second largest island. Jamestown is the island’s only city. We then crossed the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge, which connects Jamestown to Newport on Aquidneck Island, the bay’s largest island. The Newport Bridge is a 1600 foot long suspension bridge ranking it 70th among the longest suspension bridges in the world and the longest in New England. The bridge is also Rhode Island’s only toll road with cars paying $4 in each direction.

Just like Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, Newport became a summer destination for the country’s wealthiest. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier were married in Newport and JFK used the Hammersmith Farm, Jackie’s childhood home, as his summer White House. Eisenhower also made Newport his summer residence. Wealthy families such as the Vanderbilts and Astors began to build mansions in Newport in the 1800’s. The city is now famous for the Newport Mansions, which are administered by the Preservation Society of Newport. It offers tours of eleven mansions that represents over 250 years of cultural and architectural history. The other mansions, including the Hammersmith Farm, are privately owned and therefore do not offer tours. They can still be seen on one of the many different driving tours.

We spent the majority of the day walking around the waterfront downtown and doing a little shopping. The marina was filled with sailboats and yachts, and it is understandable considering that Newport is known as the sailing capital of the US. In addition to sailing, Newport was one of the founding members of the United States Golf Association and the city is also home to International Tennis Hall of Fame. We took our own self-guided walk through the city instead of using the suggested itineraries provided to us. We figured we would need more than a day to see and experience all of what Newport had to offer. We stopped at the Touro Synagogue, which is the oldest synagogue still standing in North America dating back to 1763. It is an affiliated site within the National Park Service and is one of only two National Parks within Rhode Island. The synagogue still serves an active congregation of over 100 families and greets over 30,000 visitors yearly. Tours are offered of the synagogue but the times vary depending on the different months of the year.

A visit to Newport would not be complete without a visit to the beach. There are a few beaches in Newport, some of which are private and others are open to the public. Easton’s Beach, located off of Memorial Drive between Newport and Middletown, is Newport’s only ocean beach. There is an outdoor skateboard park, free summer concerts, snack bar, and showers. The beach is also close to the famous Newport Cliff Walk. It is a 3.5 mile walkway that borders the shoreline. It extends from Easton’s Beach to Bailey’s Beach, an elite private beach and club. There are numerous public access points along the walk. Most of the cliff walk is paved and offers beautiful vistas along the rugged shoreline. Just as we got to the beach, a fog rolled in obscuring our beautiful view of the ocean. The entire day was sunny and beautiful and then the fog rolled in very quickly. It stayed for about thirty minutes and then it rolled back out. Locals said that it happens often and the fog rarely stays long.

There is so much to do in Newport, that our brief visit was not enough. Newport is one of those cities where I could take the family on summer vacations. There is so much to do for every member of the family. I would recommend visiting Newport and we will definitely be going back many more times.
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From journal Exploring New England from Vermont to Rhode Island

A Dramatic Ocean View

by cjg1

New York, New York

September 15, 2011

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When visiting Newport definitely explore the Cliff Walk. The forty steps is a dramatic stone staircase on Cliff Walk taht is a must see. Large stone steps rise up with a dramatic incline to the hill above.. Watch your step when waliking back down ...Read more

Cliff Walk

by Jctravel1983

Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

July 4, 2011

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Best of IgoUgo On the seventh day of our journey we came to the U.S. state of Rhode Island and the city of Newport, where we explored the Cliff Walk. Newport was founded in 1639 and was a refuge for dissidents. The city became rich through trading and today it has ...Read more On the seventh day of our journey we came to the U.S. state of Rhode Island and the city of Newport, where we explored the Cliff Walk.

Newport was founded in 1639 and was a refuge for dissidents. The city became rich through trading and today it has the highest concentration of colonial buildings. Already in 1861 it was discovered by the rich citizens of the city and they built themselves large houses here which were almost palaces. Even today the city of Newport is still rich. Many yachts are in the harbor and there are many Mansions.

The Cliff Walk is a 5 kilometer walk on the cliffs of Newport. He begins at the corner of Memorial Boulevard and Eustie Avenue, specifically on Easton's Beach. Here you can park the car at the roadside without any problems and begin the walk. The beach alone is worth seeing, there are giant clam shells and it has a great view of the sea.

The Cliff Walk runs along the cliffs, but also along the Mansions of the super rich. Mansions were built than in 1900, the residents wanted to be close to this cliff path, but a few fishermen fought for the preservation. Two thirds of the way and are attached so well for everyone unconquerable. With prams or wheelchairs should be able to handle this part of the Cliff Walk. Only the last third is not a real way more, here you must climb from rock to rock and should always have good shoes. This part is of course also not handicapped accessible or accessible with small children.

After our car at the northern end of the walkway - at Easton's Beach - had parked, we walked into the Cliff Walk and immediately had a great view over the sea and the beach. The path is fixed at this point so you can walk safely in all weather conditions along the cliffs. The sea cliffs falling steeply, so there are some stone walls or railings that protect pedestrians. On less steep places, there are no walls. Here you can even climb the cliffs down and sit on a rock and watch the world go waves crashing against the cliffs. Which of course can also be dangerous and what to do should not officially.

On the other side of the road are the big houses - the Mansions - the super-rich to protect their property, however, by high hedges, not so everyone stares at her garden, which is of course understandable. Still, you can catch a glance at some points on the backs of the houses. I personally found the site with cliffs so appealing, but there were quite walkers who were trying to spot the right thing by the hedges. Well, to each his own, and the number of visitors that day was overall not so great, so we are not too many walkers came to meet.

After a few hundred meters you reach a staircase. About 40 steps you can now continue to climb down and enjoy the view. There is also a nice cave, in which one should climb but not because the water is constantly flushed against the entrance and the stones are very slippery here.
A little later we pass a large, imposing building, part of the Salve Regina College. Here is a beautiful park area with benches where you can relax.

The landscape along the cliffs is really nice and so we wandered for a while longer. However, not until the end. Since it is no trail, it must be so to go all the way back and there on this day we still wanted to go further, we left it at that point for half an hour and a half hour walk back.

The Cliff Walk is a great, free hiking trail along the cliffs of a stunning panorama over the sea and really enjoy it. Besides the beautiful scenery there is also the possibility to fine old mansion and other buildings to see where I would focus more on the nature, because in my opinion is still impressive. Unfortunately, there is no trail, so that when one wants to go off the road completely and to the same goes way back, a long haul ahead of him. So we turned around at some point, but that's not really a disadvantage, so I give full credit for this trail and a recommendation.
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From journal Our holiday in the USA part 2

Cliffwalk is a must see

by abstractpainter

Warwick, Rhode Island

November 26, 2010

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The cliff walk is so gorgeous and worth seeing. On one side of the cliff walk is the water and the other side are mansions. We usually visit a mansion then walk towards the back of the mansion and do the rest of the walk. The great thing about ...Read more

Walking the Cliff walks

by bluept2005

Billerica, Massachusetts

August 25, 2006

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Beautiful, if you start walking from the first beach area it is the most easiest part to walk, the further you get the rougher it gets, but believe me it is well worth it. The mansions are on your right and the ocean is on your left, just beautiful ...Read more

From journal Newport, RI

Cliff Walk

by bridgettesb

Boston, Massachusetts

August 5, 2006

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Best of IgoUgo A wonderful walk, breathtaking views with the mansions on one side and the ocean on the other! You can take it as long or as short as you want. The whole trail is 3.5 miles long, most of which is paved and level, making it a stress-free walk. Part ...Read more

From journal Newport in the Winter

Cliff Walk

by take-me-away

Raynham, Massachusetts

October 17, 2003

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Best of IgoUgo The Cliff Walk is very unique. It is a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District. The walk runs three and a half miles and about two-thirds of the walk is in easy walking condition. It is on paved walkways. The walk starts ...Read more The Cliff Walk is very unique. It is a National Recreation Trail in a National Historic District.

The walk runs three and a half miles and about two-thirds of the walk is in easy walking condition. It is on paved walkways.

The walk starts at the western end of Easton's Beach (Newport's First Beach) at Memorial Blvd. and runs south to the east end of Baileys' Beach. There are exits at Narragansett Ave., Webster St., Sheppard Ave., Ruggles Ave., Marine Ave., Ledge Rd., and Bellevue Ave., if you want to stop and get off.

You pass at your own risk on the walk, which is a public right-of-way over 33 private properties.

The view of the Newport shoreline is spectacular. There are great views of the mansions and the cliff sides. The wildflowers, birds, and geology add to this great walk.

Parts of the southern half of the walk are a rough trail over the natural and rugged New England rocky shore line. You have to scramble from rock to rock. Make sure you have good shoes. This is a must. There are a number of fences guarding the steep drops. In spots, the drop is over 70 feet. The stretch from Ruggles to Ledge Road is the longest and most difficult once you pass the Gull Rock tunnel. This section offers no easy exit. You need to be especially careful and alert in this area.

At the end of Narragansett Ave. are the "Forty Steps". This is a stone staircase that drops about two thirds of the way down the side of the cliff to a balcony over the sea. Some parking is available on Narragansett Ave. A lot of people just go here to see the spectacular view of the ocean. Each step has a name of a person or family or business on it. They have contributed to the steps restoration. During Newport's Gilded Age, the Forty Steps were a gathering place for the servants and workers from the nearby mansions. This part of the walk is easy and in very good condition.

Also, watch out for Poison Ivy. It grows well along some areas of the path. Just be careful and enjoy.

One important thing to do is to take water with you. Whether you walk the whole thing or part of it, the sun gets very hot and you will get thirsty. My husband and I did the whole walk down and back (7 miles). It took us 3 hours and 15 minutes. I was exhausted, but it was worth it.

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From journal Long Weekend in Newport, RI

Cliff Walk

by tigges

Dubuque, Iowa

March 8, 2003

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One of our favorite things was the Cliff Walk. The first time we took a walking tour, and the guide was full of wonderful antidotes and information about the walk and about the mansions that you walk by. It was really enjoyable. The walk is all ...Read more

From journal Surprising Newport

Cliff Walk

by Cheryl

Fort Johnson, New York

July 29, 2000

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The Cliff Walk Tour covers approximately two miles and is about two hours long. The most beautiful section of Cliff Walk, is between Narragansett Ave. and Ruggles Ave. This section runs in front of the four waterfront mansions that are now part of ...Read more

From journal Experience the Opulence of Newport RI

IgoUgo

Cliff Walk: The Forty Steps

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