Block Island has more trails than most visitors realize. The island’s conservation land — roughly 40% of Block Island’s total area is permanently protected — is threaded with a network of walking paths called the Greenway, maintained by the Block Island Land Trust. What these trails offer isn’t dramatic elevation gain or technical scrambling. What they offer is something rarer: the ability to walk for miles across a working New England island landscape — through glacial moraines, past freshwater ponds, along cliff edges above the open ocean — without crossing a paved road or seeing a car.
Here’s what you need to know about hiking on Block Island.
The Block Island Greenway
The Greenway is the backbone of Block Island’s trail network. Roughly 28 miles of trails wind through conservation areas across the island, connecting nature preserves, viewpoints, ponds, and beaches that are otherwise inaccessible.
Trails are generally well-maintained but not heavily developed — this isn’t a destination with paved paths and interpretive signage at every turn. Some sections can be overgrown in late summer, and wayfinding occasionally requires attention. The Block Island Land Trust produces trail maps available at the ferry dock tourist information booth and at the Land Trust office in town.
Best Hiking Areas on Block Island
Rodman’s Hollow
Rodman’s Hollow is Block Island’s most-visited natural preserve and the best starting point for first-time hikers. It’s a glacial outwash plain — essentially a bowl carved by glacial meltwater — that cuts dramatically into the island’s south-central interior.
What makes it worth visiting: The geology is visible in a way that’s unusual — you can see the layered sediment banks, the spring-fed streams at the bottom, and the transition from scrub oak and holly at the rim to marsh and wetland at the center. It’s genuinely striking.
Trail details: The main trails through Rodman’s Hollow are 1–2 miles long with modest elevation change. Multiple entry points are accessible from Cooney Hill Road. The trails connect southward toward Black Rock Beach on the island’s south shore — a worthwhile extension that adds another 30 minutes to the hike.
Black Rock Beach: At the south end of Rodman’s Hollow trails, a rough path descends to Black Rock Beach — a wild, rocky, swim-at-your-own-risk stretch of south shore beach with no facilities and no crowds. Well worth the detour.
Clay Head and the Clay Head Trail
Clay Head is Block Island’s most scenic hiking destination. The Clay Head Trail runs along the north shore clay cliffs, with views across the open ocean toward Point Judith and the Rhode Island mainland. The cliffs here aren’t as tall as Mohegan Bluffs, but the trail is more accessible and the loop options are excellent.
The Maze: Behind Clay Head, a network of informal trails known locally as “the Maze” winds through dense scrub — brambles, beach plum, rosa rugosa, native wildflowers. Getting turned around in the Maze is a Block Island rite of passage. It’s not dangerous (you’ll always hit a road or boundary eventually), but bring a map.
Trail details: Clay Head Nature Trail is approximately 2 miles one-way from the trailhead on Corn Neck Road. The full loop including the Maze is 3–4 miles. Mostly flat.
Access: Trailhead off Corn Neck Road, about 2 miles north of Old Harbor. Bike there via Corn Neck Road (flat and scenic).
Mohegan Bluffs Area
The Mohegan Bluffs are the island’s most dramatic geological feature — 200-foot clay cliffs above the Atlantic along the south shore. The trail along the bluff edge on Mohegan Trail Road provides views that are among the best on Block Island.
Hiking option: Park or lock your bike at the main Mohegan Bluffs overlook and walk the trail east toward the Southeast Lighthouse. The trail covers perhaps half a mile of cliff-edge walking with continuous ocean views. The Lighthouse itself is a National Historic Landmark open for tours in summer.
The staircase: 141 wooden steps descend from the overlook to the beach below. The descent is manageable; the climb back up is a real workout. The narrow rocky beach at the base is not a swimming beach but is geologically extraordinary.
Southwest Point and the Southwest Lighthouse Area
The southwest corner of Block Island is the island’s wildest — exposed, wind-swept, and home to the Southwest Lighthouse (a private lighthouse not open to the public, but photogenic from outside). Trails in this area wind through salt meadow and scrub.
The area is also the best surf casting location on the island, and the most exposed to ocean conditions. On a breezy day, the southwest corner has a raw, weather-beaten quality that’s different from the more polished north end.
Access: Mohegan Trail Road to the west end.
Fresh Pond and the Central Trails
The island’s interior is dotted with freshwater ponds, the largest of which is Fresh Pond. Trails around Fresh Pond and through the central conservation areas are less dramatic than the coastal hikes but offer excellent birding — especially during fall migration, when Block Island is a significant stopover point in the Atlantic Flyway. Warblers, shorebirds, and raptors move through in numbers that surprise first-time visitors.
Birding on Block Island Trails
Block Island is one of the most significant fall migration stopover sites on the East Coast. In September and October, the combination of the island’s geographic isolation and its habitat diversity (open meadow, scrub, freshwater ponds, coastal marsh) concentrates migrating songbirds, shorebirds, and raptors in remarkable numbers.
The Clay Head area, Rodman’s Hollow, and the central ponds are the most productive spots. Bring binoculars in fall — Block Island birding is genuinely exceptional.
The Block Island Bird Banding Station, operated by the Block Island Land Trust, runs at Clay Head during fall migration and is open to visitors.
Trail Difficulty and Terrain
Block Island’s trails are, by New England standards, mild. No significant climbing, no technical terrain. The main challenges:
- Uneven footing: Many trails cross rough pasture or rocky ground — ankle rolls are possible
- Overgrowth: Some sections in late summer are heavily overgrown with briars and beach plum
- Navigation: The trail network is not heavily signed; carry a map
- Exposed sun: Very little shade on the coastal sections; sun protection is essential
Difficulty ratings:
- Rodman’s Hollow: Easy to moderate (some descent)
- Clay Head Trail: Easy (mostly flat)
- Mohegan Bluffs staircase: Moderate (141 steps each way)
- Southwest Point area: Easy (flat)
What to Bring for Hiking on Block Island
- Water: There are no water sources on the trails. Bring more than you think you need.
- Sunscreen and hat: Coastal trails are almost entirely exposed
- Comfortable shoes: Trail runners or light hiking shoes are ideal; sandals are not recommended
- Trail map: Available from the Block Island Land Trust office or the tourist information booth at the ferry dock
- Binoculars: Especially for fall birding
- Bug spray: Ticks are present in grassy and brushy areas. Check yourself after hiking.
- Light jacket: The ocean breeze can be cool even in summer
Combining Hiking with Other Activities
Block Island hiking is most naturally combined with biking — rent a bike at the harbor, ride to a trailhead, hike, and bike back. This is how most visitors experience the Greenway. The bike ride to Clay Head up Corn Neck Road is itself scenic and straightforward.
The ferry puts you in Old Harbor, within walking distance of beach access and a 10-minute ride from most major trailheads.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many miles of trails does Block Island have?
The Block Island Greenway comprises approximately 28 miles of trails across the island’s conservation areas. Additional informal paths extend beyond the formal network.
Are Block Island trails easy to follow without a guide?
For main trails like Clay Head and Rodman’s Hollow, yes. The Maze section at Clay Head is intentionally confusing — that’s part of the experience. Carry the Land Trust trail map for any extended hiking.
Can I hike Block Island in a day trip?
Yes. A day trip from Point Judith on the high-speed ferry gives you 5–8 hours on the island, which is enough for the Clay Head trail or Rodman’s Hollow loop plus other activities.
Are Block Island trails dog-friendly?
Yes — dogs are welcome on most Greenway trails. Keep them leashed in conservation areas and be responsible about wildlife habitat. Dogs are also welcome at most beaches outside of peak summer hours.
When is the best time to hike on Block Island?
May and June offer lush vegetation and mild temperatures. September and October offer the best birding, comfortable weather, and dramatically fewer people than midsummer. The island in October has a golden, end-of-season quality that serious hikers specifically seek out.
Is there a fee to hike on Block Island?
No. The Block Island Land Trust’s Greenway trails are free and publicly accessible.
