There’s something magical about standing on a cliff edge, watching waves crash against rocks hundreds of feet below while salt air fills your lungs. Coastal walks offer some of the most breathtaking scenery you’ll find anywhere, combining the raw power of the ocean with stunning geological formations that have been carved by thousands of years of wind and water.
These walks aren’t just about the destination—they’re about experiencing nature at its most dramatic. Here is a list of 16 coastal walks that showcase some of the most spectacular cliff views you can find.
Big Sur Coastal Trail
California’s Big Sur region delivers some of the most jaw-dropping coastal scenery in the country, with cliffs that plunge dramatically into the Pacific Ocean. The McWay Falls trail takes you to an overlook where you can watch an 80-foot waterfall cascade directly onto the sand-strewn beach below.
The entire stretch along Highway 1 offers multiple access points to clifftop trails that reveal new vistas around every bend.
Cliff Walk Newport
Rhode Island’s famous Cliff Walk in Newport combines Gilded Age mansion views with dramatic Atlantic coastline scenery along a 3.5-mile path. The trail hugs limestone cliffs that drop 70 feet to the ocean below, while grand estates like The Breakers provide a stark contrast to the wild coastal environment.
This unique walk lets you experience both human opulence and natural power in the same breathtaking journey.
Point Reyes Lighthouse Trail
This Northern California walk takes you down a steep path to a lighthouse perched on dramatic cliffs 300 feet above the ocean. The trail offers sweeping views of the Pacific, and during winter months, you might spot migrating gray whales from the viewing platform.
The return trip back up those 308 steps is sure to get your heart pumping.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
San Diego’s Torrey Pines combines unique desert plants with stunning ocean cliffs in a way that feels almost otherworldly. The Guy Fleming Trail provides easy access to overlooks where sandstone cliffs drop into the Pacific, while rare Torrey pine trees frame the views.
The contrast between the golden cliffs and the blue ocean creates striking perfect photo opportunities.
Oregon Coast Trail at Devil’s Punchbowl
Oregon’s central coast features this incredible rock formation where waves have carved out a large bowl-shaped depression in the cliff face. During high tide, the ‘punchbowl’ fills with churning white water that looks like nature’s own washing machine.
The trail offers multiple vantage points to safely observe this powerful display of ocean forces.
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Northern California’s Mendocino sits on bluffs that rise 90 feet above the ocean, creating a perfect perch for cliff walking. The headlands trail loops around the village, offering views of sea stacks, blowholes, and wave-carved arches.
Victorian houses perched on the cliff edge add a charming human element to the wild coastal scenery.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia
Cape Breton Island’s famous Cabot Trail includes sections where the road hugs cliffs that drop straight into the Atlantic. The Skyline Trail near Cheticamp offers a 5-mile loop with boardwalk sections that extend over the cliff edge for unobstructed ocean views.
Fall colors combined with ocean vistas make this walk particularly spectacular in autumn.
Montauk Point State Park
Long Island’s easternmost tip features cliffs that rise 130 feet above the Atlantic, topped by the historic Montauk Lighthouse. The walking trails around the point provide views of the lighthouse, ocean, and the dramatic erosion patterns carved into the bluffs. Seal sightings are common from these elevated viewpoints.
Olympic National Park Hurricane Ridge
Washington’s Olympic Peninsula offers multiple coastal cliff experiences, but Hurricane Ridge provides some of the most accessible dramatic views. The trail system here combines mountain and ocean vistas with paths that lead to viewpoints overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
On clear days, the trail offers views stretching all the way to Vancouver Island across the Strait.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Block Island Mohegan Bluffs
Rhode Island’s Block Island features clay cliffs that rise 200 feet above the Atlantic, creating some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in New England. The wooden staircase down to the beach provides multiple stopping points to appreciate the towering bluff faces.
The view from the top encompasses miles of open ocean and the island’s historic lighthouse.
Pfeiffer Beach Purple Sand
Big Sur’s Pfeiffer Beach combines unique purple sand with dramatic rock formations and clifftop views. The beach sits in a cove surrounded by cliffs, while the famous Keyhole Rock creates a natural window for sunset photography.
The contrast between the colorful sand and towering cliff faces makes this spot particularly memorable.
Cape Perpetua Scenic Area
Oregon’s highest point on the coast provides views from 800 feet above sea level, making it one of the most elevated coastal walking experiences available. The trail to the summit offers panoramic views spanning 150 miles of coastline on clear days. Devil’s Churn, accessible via a separate trail, shows the ocean’s power as it forces through narrow rock channels.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Lands End Lookout
San Francisco’s Lands End trail combines urban accessibility with wild coastal scenery, following cliffs that overlook the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. The remains of the Sutro Baths add historical interest to the dramatic ocean views.
Multiple trail options allow visitors to customize their cliff-walking experience based on time and fitness level.
Kauai’s Na Pali Coast
Hawaii’s Na Pali Coast features some of the most dramatic coastal cliffs in the Pacific, with green valleys dropping thousands of feet into turquoise water. The Kalalau Trail provides the only land access to these spectacular views, though the full hike requires serious preparation.
Even the first two miles to Hanakapiai Beach offer incredible cliff-top perspectives.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
Central California’s Point Lobos combines cypress trees, granite cliffs, and pristine coves in what’s often called ‘the crown jewel of the California State Park system’. The Cypress Point Trail leads to dramatic overlooks where you can watch sea otters playing in kelp forests far below.
The reserve’s network of short trails makes it easy to experience multiple cliff viewpoints in a single visit.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Ruby Beach Olympic Peninsula
Washington’s Ruby Beach features dramatic sea stacks rising from the surf, with clifftop trails providing elevated views of these natural sculptures. The beach gets its name from the garnet sand that gives it a reddish tint, creating a beautiful contrast with the dark rock formations.
Driftwood scattered along the shoreline adds to the wild, untouched feeling of this coastal walk.
Where Ocean Meets Adventure
These coastal walks represent some of nature’s most impressive collaborative efforts between land and sea. Each location tells a different story of how wind, waves, and time have shaped our coastlines into the dramatic landscapes we see today.
Whether you’re seeking a gentle stroll with ocean views or a challenging hike to remote clifftop vantage points, these destinations offer experiences that connect us to the raw power and beauty of our coastal environments. The next time you need to clear your head or gain some perspective, remember that some of the best therapy comes with salt air and the sound of waves crashing far below.
More from Travel Pug
- 20 Best Beach Towns in the Carolinas
- 13 Destinations Where Tourists Regularly Regret Their Trip
- 20 Destinations That Are More Magical Without an Itinerary
- 20 Underrated Adventures That Belong on Your Travel List
- 20 Cities Where You Should Just Wing It, No Planning Required
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.