Rhode Island Coast — Beavertail and Cliff Walk
Rhode Island · State Park · Northeast Region
Beavertail is the southernmost tip of Conanicut Island at the mouth of Narragansett Bay, a rocky Atlantic headland with a historic lighthouse (built 1749) and waves breaking on basalt shore. The Cliff Walk in Newport is 3.5 miles of oceanfront cliffs with the Atlantic on one side and the Gilded Age mansions (The Breakers, Marble House) set back on the other. Both locations offer a distinctly New England coastal character that is hard to replicate anywhere else in the region.
- Best season
- May–October
- Permit required
- Varies
- Difficulty
- Easy
Permit Information
Beavertail State Park (RI DEM) requires a Special Use Permit for groups of 50+. Scaled fee system: $200 for 101–200 people, higher for larger groups. Groups under 50 do not need a permit for small personal ceremonies. Newport's Cliff Walk is a public easement under Rhode Island law — small personal ceremonies do not require a permit. Commercial photographers on state property may require a permit. Contact RI DEM at 401-884-2010.
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