15 Block Island Hiking Trails Most Tourists Miss

Block Island sits 13 miles off the Rhode Island coast like a hidden gem waiting to be explored. Most visitors flock to the beaches and popular lighthouse spots, yet the island’s network of hiking trails offers some of the most spectacular scenery in New England.

These paths wind through diverse landscapes — from dramatic coastal bluffs to peaceful meadows filled with wildflowers. Tourists typically stick to the main attractions and miss these incredible trails that showcase the island’s natural beauty.

Here is a list of 15 Block Island hiking trails that offer stunning views, unique wildlife encounters, and peaceful solitude away from the crowds.

Clay Head Trail

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The Clay Head Trail hugs the island’s northern coastline and delivers some of the most dramatic ocean views you’ll find anywhere. This 2-mile path takes hikers along towering clay cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic, creating a landscape that feels almost otherworldly.

The trail connects to the Corn Neck Road area and offers multiple access points — perfect for both short walks and longer explorations. Clear days reveal the Connecticut coast and even Long Island in the distance.

Mohegan Bluffs Nature Trail

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Hidden beneath the famous Mohegan Bluffs area, this lesser-known trail descends through beach grass and coastal shrubs toward the shoreline. The path offers a completely different perspective of the iconic 200-foot cliffs that most people only view from above.

Hikers encounter unique plant communities adapted to the salty air and constant ocean spray. The trail rewards visitors with secluded beach access and incredible photo opportunities of the bluffs from below.

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Greenway Trail Network

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The Greenway Trail system connects various conservation areas across the island through a series of interconnected paths that most visitors never discover. These trails wind through diverse habitats including freshwater ponds, maritime forests, and open meadows.

The network spans roughly 8 miles total, and it can be explored in segments or as a full-day adventure. Wildlife spotting opportunities abound here, from migrating birds to native deer that roam freely through the protected areas.

Rodman’s Hollow Trail

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Rodman’s Hollow feels like stepping into a secret garden tucked away from the island’s busier areas. This glacial depression creates a unique microclimate that supports rare plants while providing shelter for wildlife.

The trail loops through the hollow and connects to surrounding conservation land — offering about 1.5 miles of peaceful walking. Spring visitors will find the area carpeted with wildflowers. In fall, the foliage rivals anything on the mainland.

Lewis-Dickens Farm Trail

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This trail system explores the island’s agricultural heritage while showcasing some of its most pristine natural areas. The paths wind through old farmland that’s been returned to nature — creating a patchwork of meadows, stone walls, and recovering woodlands.

Hikers discover remnants of the island’s farming past, including old foundations and traditional stone fences. The trail offers excellent bird watching opportunities, especially during migration seasons when the open fields attract various species.

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Fresh Pond Trail

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Fresh Pond provides a completely different hiking experience from the coastal trails that dominate most of the island. This peaceful loop circles one of Block Island’s few freshwater bodies, creating a serene environment that feels worlds away from the ocean.

The trail passes through cattail marshes and woodland areas that support different wildlife than the coastal regions. It’s particularly beautiful in early morning when mist rises from the water — creating an almost mystical atmosphere.

Mansion Beach Trail

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While many visitors know about Mansion Beach, few explore the network of trails that wind through the dunes and maritime forest behind the shoreline. These paths offer access to some of the island’s most pristine beach areas while providing protection from the wind.

The trail system includes elevated boardwalks that protect sensitive dune vegetation — giving hikers great views of the surrounding landscape. You’ll often have entire sections of beach to yourself when accessed via these lesser-known routes.

Nathan Mott Park Trail

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Nathan Mott Park contains a surprisingly diverse trail system that showcases the island’s inland beauty. The paths wind through mixed forests, open meadows, and along small streams that most tourists never see.

This area feels more like hiking in Vermont than on a small island — with its dense canopy and peaceful woodland atmosphere. The trails here are particularly popular with local residents who know about the park’s hidden charms.

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Settler’s Rock Trail

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This short but rewarding trail leads to one of Block Island’s most significant historical sites while offering spectacular coastal views. The path winds through beach grass and low shrubs to reach the rock where the island’s first European settlers supposedly landed.

The trail provides a perfect combination of history and natural beauty — with sweeping views of the Great Salt Pond and surrounding coastline. It’s an easy walk that packs a lot of visual impact into a short distance.

Beacon Hill Trail

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Beacon Hill offers some of the island’s best panoramic views, though most visitors miss the network of trails that crisscross this elevated area. The paths wind through diverse habitats including grasslands, shrub areas, and small patches of woodland.

From various points along the trail — you can see virtually the entire island spread out below. The area is particularly stunning during sunset when the entire landscape glows in golden light.

Crescent Beach Dunes Trail

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While Crescent Beach attracts plenty of visitors, the dune trails behind the beach remain largely unexplored by tourists. These elevated paths provide excellent views of the beach and ocean while protecting the fragile dune ecosystem. The trail system includes both short loops and longer connections to other parts of the island.

Walking these paths gives hikers a much better appreciation for the complex coastal environment that makes Block Island so special.

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Painted Rock Trail

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The Painted Rock Trail leads to one of the island’s most colorful geological features, while passing through some of its most diverse plant communities. The path winds through areas where different soil types create distinct vegetation zones, making it feel like you’re hiking through multiple ecosystems.

The trail offers excellent wildflower viewing in spring and early summer when the meadows come alive with color. It’s a relatively easy walk that rewards hikers with both natural beauty and geological interest.

West Beach Trail System

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West Beach’s trail network provides access to some of the island’s most dramatic coastal scenery while remaining largely unknown to casual visitors. These paths wind along the western shoreline where you can watch spectacular sunsets over the open ocean.

The trail system includes both beachfront routes and elevated paths that provide different perspectives of the coastline. During migration seasons, this area becomes a hotspot for bird watching as species follow the coastline during their journeys.

Charleston Pond Trail

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Charleston Pond represents one of Block Island’s most pristine freshwater environments, and the surrounding trail system showcases this unique ecosystem. The paths circle the pond while connecting to broader conservation areas that protect the watershed.

Hikers discover diverse plant communities that depend on the freshwater environment, creating a stark contrast to the salt-adapted vegetation found elsewhere on the island. The area provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and peaceful contemplation.

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Sands Pond Trail

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Sands Pond offers a perfect example of how Block Island’s small size creates surprisingly diverse hiking opportunities. This trail system explores the transition zones between freshwater and saltwater environments, creating unique plant communities found anywhere else on the island.

The paths wind through areas where pond, marsh, and coastal environments meet and blend together. It’s a fascinating area for anyone interested in coastal ecology and how different environments interact in small spaces.

Beyond the Beaten Path

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These hidden trails represent the real Block Island that most visitors never experience during their brief stays. Each path tells a different story about the island’s natural history, from the dramatic coastal processes that shaped the cliffs to the quiet freshwater environments that support unique wildlife.

The best part about exploring these trails is that you’ll often have them entirely to yourself, creating an intimate connection with this special place that’s impossible to find at the crowded tourist spots.

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