Ledge Road to Bailey's Beach/Bellevue Ave.

      Many people are confused when they reach Ledge Road as the Cliff Walk seems to end at a pile of rocks just beyond a gateway on the southern side of Ledge Rd.

      Erosion has torn away the original path at this point and you have to scramble up along the rocks for just a short way.

      But just on the other side of the pile of rocks, the path begins again in front of the Waves and runs to the real Cliff Walk end at East Bailey's Beach, locally called Rejects Beach.

      It's a lot more interesting walking along Cliff Walk and nearly the same distance as you would have to go on Ledge Rd.

      The path in this section is reasonable to walk. However, there are several areas where the walker has to decide which direction to take over a number of large rocky areas.

      When you reach Bellevue Ave., it is just over two miles back to Memorial Blvd. as you return north on Bellevue Ave. During the summer season, you can catch a bus on Bellevue Ave. at a number of stops.



      Don't hesitate to scout out the trail for easier alternatives, even though they may not be as direct.
A Look Back

      In 1965, Spouting Rock Beach Association [SRBA], the owners of the exclusive "private" Bailey's Beach erected fences at the extreme east end of the beach. The fences served to block public access to the eastern end of the beach where it ran along the southern end of Cliff Walk.

      This somewhat remote section of the beach was not used by the members of SRBA, but local residents [sometimes considered by SRBA to be "rejects"] had used this area to infiltrate onto SRBA's private beach.

      The local Newport residents had used the eastern end of the beach for nearly 100 years, and put pressure on the Newport City Council to solve the fence problem.

      In the course of this effort it was discovered, and affirmed by the RI Supreme Court, that the southerly end of Bellevue Ave., as established in 1852, extended westerly as a 50 ft. public right-of-way to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. This revelation cut an impudent swath in the main beach area of SRBA's "private" beach.

      Compromise being the name of the game, the City relinquished its right-of-way for a perpetual right of easement to the eastern end of Bailey's beach for the benefit of the general public.

      So the end of Cliff Walk now runs along the public's "East Bailey's Beach" also known as "Reject's Beach" by the locals.

      There is no parking available anywhere near the beach, but it is ideal for bikers and walkers. During the summer the Bellevue Ave. bus also runs nearby.
Cliff Walk: Table of Contents
    Cliff Walk History
    North Map and 360 Panoramas
    South Map and 360 Panoramas
1. The Start at Memorial Boulevard
2. The Forty Steps at Narragansett Ave.
3. Salve Regina University/Breakers
4. Ruggles Avenue to the Studio
5. The Studio to the Tea House and Tunnels
6. The Tunnel to the Bridge
7. The Bridge to Ledge Road
8. Ledge Road to the End at Bellevue Ave.
    Cliff Walk Home Page



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