Newport Cliff Walk Run
Newport Cliff Walk, A Great Place to Run
Newport, Rhode Island and its famous Cliff Walk are popular tourist destinations and, fun fact, where I got my start in fitness!
During Houston, Texas summers I often wonder why I ever left this beautiful oceanside community! Luckily, I have hospitable friends and family who still live in Newport and I'm able to get back at least once a year.
On my last visit to Newport, I decided to document some of my favorite running routes so you can try them out when you're in town!
My suggestion?
While you're visiting Newport, Rhode Island, tone up with a 30 minute strength training, yoga, or private Pilates session with your favorite Fit Armadillo online personal fitness trainer. Then, use one of my running routes
Visiting #NewportRI? Check out this series to keep up with your #fitnessroutine @FitArmadillo #fittips
This Newport, Rhode Island running series will run (pun intended!) 4 weeks. First up, it's a route along the famous Newport Cliff Walk!
Newport, RI Running Route #1: Newport Cliff Walk
The Newport Cliff Walk entrance on Memorial Blvd in Newport, Rhode Island
Distance: 3-4 Miles
Starts at the Newport Cliff Walk's Memorial Blvd Entrance (shown here)
Ends back at the Newport Cliff Walk Memorial Blvd Entrance
About the Running Route:
This Newport, RI running route offers the best of two of Newport's claims to fame: the ocean and its famous mansions!
You'll start overlooking Easton's Beach (also known as First Beach) and passing by The Chanler, a Newport mansion turned hotel and restaurant.
As you warm up you can check out a map of the Cliff Walk. While the full Cliff Walk is 3.5 miles one way, the run I'm suggesting here is 1.5 - 2 miles out and back. That's because a significant portion of those final 1.5 miles isn't very runner-friendly.
Check out the Newport Cliff Walk map to plan future adventures
While I still recommend you check out the entire Cliff Walk if you have time, I'd save the end for a walk and make sure you've warmed up your ankles!
On your mark, get set, GO! Start running here.
Newport Cliff Walk Scenic Spot or Fitness Challenge #1:
By starting your Newport Cliff Walk run at the Easton's Beach entrance, you'll pass the famous Forty Steps 2/3 of a mile into your workout. This landmark is impossible to miss thanks to several signs, a sometimes smelly porta potty to the right (just keeping things real!), and if you're lucky, a kid or two selling water to help you stay hydrated!
Forty Steps, a famous stop on the Newport Cliff Walk
Up for a fitness challenge?
As long as the steps aren't wet, try running up and down them a few times. You should be properly warmed up by this point in your workout.
Next Up: Newport Mansions or Summer Homes
Continue on the Cliff Walk and you'll run by Salve Regina University's Ochre Court, the second largest mansion in Newport, and the Vinland Estate, also now used by Salve Regina.
Taking a break at The Breakers' mansion on the Newport Cliff Walk
Next, you'll pass over Shepard Avenue on your way to the backyard of The Breakers. This mansion is considered the grandest of Newport's "summer cottages." and was the former home of the Vanderbilt family.
Across the street from the Breakers and as you continue on along the Cliff Walk, you may see some surfers in the ocean to your left. On your right, you won't be able to miss the privately owned Angelsea mansion.
Left: In between The Breakers and Angelsea Right: At Anglesea waiting for our invitation inside!
After a short run downhill and around the back of the Angelsea mansion, you'll hit the first tricky part of the Cliff Walk - the walkway is no more for a small segment here! Instead, it's just a bunch of rocks. Only run here if you dare and if you promise to be careful!
Once you get over the rocks, you'll hit the 1.5 mile mark! If you were only planning on running 3 miles, you can turn back around here.
The halfway point for 3 mile runners is just past the rocks and before the Marine Ave exit.
Pro tip: If you're running at a peak tourist time and don't feel like dodging people on your way back, you can head up the next exit on your right marked by a sign for Marine Avenue.
Take a right at the end of Marine Avenue to head down Bellevue Avenue where you can catch a glimpse of the front of the mansions. Follow signs to The Breakers, if you want to see the front yard, or continue down Bellevue Ave. Once you hit the Memorial Blvd/Bellevue Avenue intersection(past a plaza for Stop & Shop on your right), take another right to get back to the Easton's Beach entrance of the Cliff Walk.
Four Mile Runners
If you're looking to run more than a 5K, you can keep running along the Cliff Walk. The next famous Newport Mansion you'll see is Rosecliff, the set of several famous movies.
The light at the end of the tunnel is your turnaround point!
From there, you'll pass by Beechwood and finally Marble House and its Chinese Tea House, which sits right above the cliff and before a tunnel, your last major sight for this run.
A short distance after the tunnel, you'll hit the
From this spot, you'll start to see what I meant about parts of the Cliff Walk being too difficult to run safely!
Your turnaround point for your 4 mile run, luckily right
before some treacherous terrain on the Newport Cliff Walk
If you're visiting Newport, Rhode Island as a tourist, you can use the second half of this out and back running route to take some fun sweaty selfies next to your favorite summer homes.
I hope you'll get to enjoy this or one of the next Newport, RI running routes I'll share during this blog series.
Have you ever visited Newport, Rhode Island? Have you run there? I'd love to hear about your visit and your favorite running routes! Share your thoughts with a comment below:
