Newport Cliff Walk

Newport Cliff Walk is a 3.5-mile public shoreline path in Newport, Rhode Island, extending between Bailey’s Beach and First Beach and known for combining ocean views with close access to the city’s Gilded Age estates, including The Breakers, Marble House, and Rough Point. Its significance also lies in Rhode Island’s long tradition of public shoreline access, rooted in the 1663 charter of King Charles II and later protected in the state constitution. Built in sections from about 1880 along the edges of private mansion grounds, the route has long been shaped by conflicts over public passage and by repeated storm damage, erosion, and costly repairs.

Newport, Rhode Island · United States