Newport’s Cliff Walk Is Having a Moment Again — Here’s What Nobody Tells You Before You Go

It was the daffodils that stopped me first. Bright clusters of them tucked along the path, swaying gently in the May air — and then I looked up, and there was a Gilded Age mansion practically close enough to touch, its stone facade rising above perfectly kept grounds, the Atlantic glittering behind me.

I hadn’t really known what I was walking into. I’d heard “Cliff Walk” and pictured a nice coastal trail. What I found was something else entirely: a three-and-a-half-mile path threading between two of the most dramatic things I’ve ever seen side by side — one of America’s most storied stretches of historic architecture on one side, and the raw, crashing Atlantic on the other. I was genuinely unprepared for how extraordinary it was.

Why Everyone Is Suddenly Talking About Newport’s Cliff Walk

Newport’s Cliff Walk has been a thing since the 19th century — a public right-of-way that runs along the eastern edge of Aquidneck Island, threading between the backyards of Gilded Age estates and the raw Atlantic coastline. Legally, the uber-wealthy families who built their “summer cottages” here couldn’t block public access to the shore, so the path remained open even as Vanderbilts and Belmonts constructed their palaces behind it.

That happy accident of maritime law is why you can walk for free within arm’s reach of The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff, peering at their manicured lawns from the seaward side.

The renewed surge of interest in Newport right now isn’t hard to explain: HBO’s hit series The Gilded Age has been filming largely in these very mansions, (or inspired off of htem) and the show’s runaway success has ignited a new wave of Gilded Age fascination across the country.

Mansion tours are reportedly selling out weeks in advance during peak season, and the Cliff Walk benefits from all that foot traffic. If you’ve been vaguely meaning to visit Newport for years, you’re not alone — it genuinely feels like half of America just added it to their list at the same time.

Before You Go: There’s a Section Currently Closed

Before you make plans around seeing every inch of the trail, though, there’s something worth knowing upfront: a section near the southern end, between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street, has been closed since a portion of the path collapsed in 2022. The city secured over $16 million in federal funding to repair it, but as of this spring, those funds have been caught up in federal spending freezes with no clear timeline.

A detour exists — you’re routed briefly onto the sidewalk along Narragansett Avenue — but it means the seamless, unbroken walk that people picture isn’t quite reality right now. It’s still absolutely worth doing; just walk north from the Forty Steps toward Easton’s Beach to experience the best of what the trail offers without hitting the closure.

Starting with the Forty Steps

We found parking right Infront of the Forty Steps and it’s also the place where the detour starts. It’s a great stopping or starting point if you are looking at cutting the entire walk in half.

That puts you squarely in the territory of one of the Cliff Walk’s true highlights: the Forty Steps. Technically they’re stone stairs carved into the cliff face, descending to a small rocky promontory where you can watch waves slam the boulders and explode upward in slow-motion curtains of spray. But their history is what makes them worth lingering over.

Built in the 1830s by a landowner named David Priestly Hall to give his children beach access, the Steps became something much more interesting during the Gilded Age. While their employers hosted lavish balls and dinner parties in the grand estates above, the servants — many of them Irish immigrants — would gather here after hours to dance jigs, play accordion music, and simply breathe.

It’s a quietly moving story layered into a beautiful spot, and knowing it changes how the place feels when you’re standing there watching the ocean. The original wooden stairs were replaced with sturdy granite in the 1990s; the names of community donors who funded the restoration are engraved into the stones.

What the Walk Is Actually Like (And What to Bring)

The walk itself, from Easton’s Beach south to the Forty Steps and back, is roughly two to three hours at a relaxed pace. The northern stretch is paved and genuinely easy — comfortable even in regular sneakers.

The southern section gets progressively more rugged: you’re scrambling over actual boulders at points, and while it’s not technical hiking, it’s also not something you want to tackle in flip-flops. Wear real walking shoes. And go in the morning if you can — by midday on any decent-weather day.

I found the terrain change completely fun to do, but it was little unnerving at points, slightly concerned that the rocks might be a bit loose. Thankfully, they were all secure. But if it was raining, it might be a bit scarier. If you have someone with you that is not always stable on their feet, you might want to skip this section.

In addition to the rugged sections, there are a few tunnels too. They are near the Marbel House. There is plenty of light during the daylight, no need for a flashlight.

One thing I’d genuinely tell every first-timer: keep your phone charged and with you. Along the walk, many of the grand estates have placards posted with QR codes that link to detailed information about the property — its history, who built it, what went on inside. We also got some tidbits about movies filmed at the location.

One of the QR codes outside of Rosecliff was used in the filming of Ture Lies. I had to text my husband immediately after finding out. While as much fun as the QR code scanning was, answering the mystery of what was on the other side of the fence, it kept me from taking as many pictures as I would have liked. I ended up being the family tour guide.

It turns a beautiful walk into something closer to an open-air museum, and you’d miss all of that without a phone to scan them. You won’t have access to the mansions itself, as they are behind gates. You’ll also be crossing by some current residences hat are not open to the public, so be kind.

Getting There and Parking: The Honest Version

Parking is the other unglamorous reality nobody wants to front-load. Street parking near the Forty Steps on Narragansett Avenue runs $2 per hour with a four-hour cap — totally manageable. The lot at Easton’s Beach on Memorial Boulevard is another solid option, especially if you want to start from the northern end of the trail.

What you should not do is assume you’ll find a free spot within easy walking distance on a warm Saturday morning. You won’t. The city does run a free hop-on, hop-off trolley from late May through October connecting downtown Newport to various Cliff Walk access points, and if you’re already staying downtown, it’s genuinely the easiest solution.

One thing we noticed was that there is always parking closer to the entrance. Resist the urge to park at the first spot. At the same time, you can only go north from 40 steps, the detour has you walking back up the street and around the building, so parking closer is subjective.

Speaking of downtown: leave time for it. Newport’s waterfront, clustered around Thames Street and Bowen’s Wharf, is lively in a way that doesn’t feel entirely manufactured for tourists. Grab a bowl of chowder, wander into a few independent shops, walk out to the wharves and watch the sailboats heel in the wind.

If you’re building a longer New England trip around it — I went Providence to Newport to Boston — it fits naturally into that corridor and gives the whole journey a welcome change of pace. Providence is gritty and interesting; Boston is busy and grand; Newport is something else entirely: small, scenic, and pleasantly out of time.

Quick Planning Notes

• Detour in effect: The section between Narragansett Avenue and Webster Street remains closed due to a 2022 path collapse. Walk north from Narragansett Avenue toward Easton’s Beach for an uninterrupted experience. Check newportri.gov for updates before you go.
• Time and footwear: Budget 2–3 hours for the northern stretch (Easton’s Beach to the Forty Steps area), or up to 4 hours for the full trail. The southern end requires scrambling over rocks — wear actual walking or hiking shoes.
• Parking: Narragansett Avenue lots charge $2/hour with a 4-hour maximum; Easton’s Beach/Memorial Boulevard is another good option. The free city trolley runs from late May through October if you’re coming from downtown.
• Best timing: Weekday mornings in the shoulder season — May, early June, September, or October — give you the trail largely to yourself and the most dramatic light on the water.