Hiking

Hiking the beaches, roads and trails is a great way to see the island!

Despite having just 10 square miles of land, Block Island features an amazing number of excellent short hikes.

In fact, hiking may be the most popular activity on the island. A well-maintained trail system includes 25 miles of walking trails, or Greenway Trails, features access points marked with small granite monoliths. Hiking trails are described below and can be seen on the center-page map. The Nature Conservancy sells detailed maps at its office on High Street, but these trails are well marked, so go take a hike!

Trail Hikes

Clayhead Trail and The Maze

Some of the island’s best views are along Clayhead Trail. A half mile into the trail, walkers will find an intersection. Right will take you to a wonderful sandy beach; left will lead you along the picturesque bluffs. At the top of the trail is an area informally known as “The Maze,” where walkers can wander through interconnected, unmarked pathways. To explore The Maze, just take any path heading westward; it’s a fascinating area. If you are short on time, be mindful of your turns, as you can quickly get lost. To reach the trailhead: Look for a small marker at a dirt road heading east off Corn Neck Road. The marker is opposite a big farm house, three miles from the four-way intersection in town, where Corn Neck Road begins. The parking lot and trailhead are at the end of this bumpy dirt road.

Elizabeth Dickens Trail

This trail is named after “the bird lady” of Block Island, who taught ornithology and natural history to BI school children and is credited with instilling Block Island’s conservation ethic. The trail traverses open fields that run to the edge of the bluffs. The trailhead is not easy to find. Turn onto the dirt road (Dickens Road) at the west end of Cooneymus Road. Take your second left onto a narrow dirt lane and continue for an eighth of a mile. There is a small parking area.

Fresh Swamp Trail

A combination of trees and open fields makes this trail a good place to observe raptors such as the northern harrier. The quiet and scenery is invigorating. The trail begins east of Fresh Pond on Lakeside Drive; look for wooden steps heading over a stone wall.

Be mindful of ticks. Deer ticks, common on B.I., can transmit Lyme disease to humans. Check for these tiny pests after your hike. Long pants and long sleeves help keep them off your skin.

Inspired by the Greenway trails of England, the Block Island Greenway is comprised of 15 miles of cleared trails winding through the southern half of the island. Nathan Mott Park, the Enchanted Forest, Turnip Farm and Rodman’s Hollow can all be accessed via the Greenway trail system. Starting points can be found on Lakeside Drive, and along Old Mill, Cooneymus, West Side and Beacon Hill roads. Look for granite Greenway markers, turnstiles and steps over stone walls.

Fresh Pond Greenway

This area is called “Smilin’ Thru” and inspired the 1920s song composed by Arthur Penn, who stayed on the island before creating the popular tune. Walkers should be prepared for steep slopes and some tricky footing. The trail starts on Lakeside Drive near the intersection with Cooneymus Road, and heads west along the shore of Fresh Pond. Take this trail to Rodman’s Hollow, then south to Black Rock. At the north end of Corn Neck Road is this picturesque 25-acre field sloping to Middle Pond and West Beach. The property was acquired for conservation in 2002 and is jointly owned and managed by the town, The Nature Conservancy, the BI Land Trust and the Block Island Conservancy. Walkers and others engaging in passive recreation are welcome. Small dirt parking lot available along the roadside, at the high-point of the preserve.

Rodman’s Hollow

This dramatic hollow drops below sea level and features panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean, as well as access to the beach. Owned and protected by the Block Island Conservancy, Rodman’s Hollow is a memorable, invigorating hike. This “glacial outwash basin” was B.I.’s first piece of land preserved from development. Enter the hollow from Cooneymus Road, where a dirt road (Black Rock Road) leads to a wooden turnstile at the trailhead.

Beach Walks

Some of the island’s best hikes are along its beaches. You can hike around the entire island in approximately eight hours. Start at any beach, and walk as far as you’d like. There are two breaks in the shoreline: the New Harbor Channel and the ferry landing in Old Harbor.

Walk the Roads

The West Side loop is gorgeous. Begin in New Harbor. From Payne’s Dock you can look across the harbor to see a spit of land called Beane Point. Owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this area is important to migrating birds and is part of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, which also encompasses the North Light.

Proceed west along West Side Road. One-half mile down the road is the Island Cemetery. From atop this hill of passed souls, you can see the North Light and the Rhode Island coast. On a clear day, look for the gigantic Newport Bridge at 40 degrees east; it spans the eastern passage of Narragansett Bay. Continuing west, you’ll pass a farm and a number of small ponds. You can get some beach time by turning right onto Dorry’s Cove Road or Cooneymus Beach Road; both dead-end at the island’s tranquil west shore.

One mile from Dorry’s Cove, West Side Road jogs to the left, where it becomes Cooneymus Road. A half mile farther along, you’ll see Rodman’s Hollow, a deep ravine on your right. Cooneymus Road next veers sharply to the left and passes Fresh Pond. At the next intersection, turn left onto Center Road and walk downhill to the State Airport. To get back to town, turn right on Old Town Road; to return to New Harbor, continue on Center Road and go right onto West Side Road.