The forty steps is a good spot to catch the sunrise. It is on the cliffwalk. This spot has street parking which seems to be free during winter time and have to pay during warmer months, probably for crowd control. I came during winter but not alot of people come here for sunrise. There were more sunrise gazers at the other beaches. At the bottom of the steps, you can access the rocks and ocean. There are porta potties nearby. I would come back in warmer months. read more

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This is a cool little spot with some history. I would make a stop here and enjoy the view. I also think they have a trail as well. Parking is a "B" though, FYI. read more

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Tony and I stopped at the 40 stepsoverlook at Cliff Walk. They are doing some minor construction at this location so please be careful! There are bathrooms located here along with some signage! A few Park benches to rest and relax! Dog friendly but please clean up after them. Highly recommend to all read more

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Loved coming by here! This is a little detour off of the cliff walk. It comes down to the point pictured and then if you're brave enough, you can climb down on the big boulders below to see the tide pools! read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Not as intimidating or challenging as I had heard. Along the Cliff Walk its a nice little side journey to do. A nice little view and again, something to take a quick step away from the Cliff Walk. read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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This was a bucket list item for me. Sooo happy to be able to check it off of my very long list! The Cliff Walk is absolutely stunning. The Forty Steps are steep and worth every nerve jumping inside of my stomach going down each one lol. The view is breathtaking and peaceful to take it all in and listen to the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks. I am already planning my next trip back to experience it during a different (warmer) season. I would lay down and take a nap on the stairs if possible. That's how calming and beautiful it was. read more

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Great spot to stop and just enjoy the beauty of r Rhode Island. The cliff walk goes right along the cliffs and gives incredible views!! The forty steps is an easy climb down and not a bad climb back up. The steps have names on them for people who donated to the effort. Even steps and then the ability to walk out onto the rocks and get some great shots of nature beauty. Partying and restrooms on the street just at the front of the forty steps. 4 hour parking for a small free most of the year but free in winter. Beautiful read more

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Sooo pretty! Very unique! There is no handrail fyi. But as long as you can do stairs, they aren't especially steep or anything. So gorgeous. Worth a visit even if you don't do the entire trail! read more

The Forty Steps - Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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This staircase, made of stone, is about half way along the 'easy' portion of the Cliff Walk. There is a good sized area at the top with a bench seat if you'd like a bit of a rest. The staircase is a bit steep but nothing uncomfortable. No railing that I recall to hold on to. The stair is bordered on each side by a stone wall. At the bottom is a small area to congregate, enjoy the views, take photos. Perhaps six people could fit there. More if you stay close. You can also continue down a few more steps, that double back on the left, onto the rocky shoreline at the base of the stairway. Be sure you have good shoes and solid footing for this. The stairway is at the end of Narragansett Avenue. Parking is available on either side of this dead end street, including a handicapped reserved spot. A pay kiosk is located at the edge of the cliff walk, by the public restrooms at the top of the staircase. Pay with card, or use the Passport parking App. It's lovely here, listening to waves crashing along the rocks, seeing the sun glistening on the water, smelling the salt air. It's a nice little addition to the cliff walk. read more

The Forty Steps - Bottom of the staircase includes a small viewing area and an assortment of boulders - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Great way to see the views from the top or the bottom of the steps. Can be reached from Cliff walk. A must see if you are in the area. I loved that you could spend as much or as little time here and its a free attraction. I recommend spending a few hours here taking in the amazing views of the ocean and the beautiful mansions. read more

The Forty Steps - 40 Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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The Newport Cliff Walk is for sure one of the top attractions in Newport, RI and if you are visiting, it's absolutely a must see! It is a breathtaking, picturesque, 3.5-mile public access walkway that offers beautiful vistas, tunnels and winding pathways that border the shore line and runs behind many of the Newport Mansions, such as The Breakers, Rosecliff, Marble House, and several others! Be sure to wear proper shoes and explore the 40 steps to get to the observation area. The observation area is relatively small, but take your pics, breath in the fresh air and climb back to the top! There is no fee to visit, and finding parking can sometimes be a little bit of a challenge. read more

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This place just simply cannot be described. The beauty is beyond words, so if you haven't been here, this is a real gem! One of my favorite spots so far, while I'm visiting here. read more

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I recommend 40 steps to all my friends and families .the facilities, are clean and well kept. Great for family. I had a great experience, we took a lot of photos of the beaches and the hiking area. The cliff walk was perfect. Not too long not too short. Awesome for photos and hiking. read more

This was a great way to enjoy the cliff walk when you're pressed for time or not wearing the right footwear. Beautiful views of the ocean. This would be great with the family, friends, or a lil romantic date. read more

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40 steps was on our list of must sees. Not a disappointment because it was beautiful. The neighborhood leading up to the 40 steps was also amazing and historical. So glad we caught this moment. read more

The Forty Steps - 40 steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

If you're doing the Cliff Walk make sure you include this spot in your adventure. It could be easy to miss, especially with large crowds in the summer in the area waiting on benches and for the bathroom. This is a beautiful spot to take photographs. If you walk to the bottom of the steps it is a small beautiful lookout. You can also at your own risk walk onto the rocks and sit as some brave souls do. Be sure to wear proper footwear and watch out for waves that could knock you down. read more

A walk down to the ocean The Forty Steps is a famous staircase that goes down from the Newport Cliffwalk to the water. It's actually 48 steps but I suspect that a few were added over the years. In a recent restoration project folks paid three thousand a piece to have their names put on a step, a common way to collect donations around the wealthy areas. This thing has been around since at least the early 1800's and then improved in the 20th century and extensively repaired after several monstrous hurricanes. Nobody really knows when it was first built but records suggest that the Narragansett Indians had a trail here for centuries. Later generations just added on. Back during the Gilded Age when the Newport Mansions were really hopping with crazy parties and dripping with cupidity and avarice, the servants would use the forty steps area as a place to gather on their rare time off and play Irish music, dance, swim and probably get plastered. It's an easy walk down to the bottom and of course the views are spectacular in all directions. Huge mansions on one side and beautiful ocean on the other. They don't want you swimming here because the crashing surf and rocks makes it very dangerous, but people frequently climb over the walls and mess around on the wet rocks. Although a lot of fun, this too can be very foolish. Just this Aug a woman was swept away by a huge wave while she was climbing on the rocks. Fortunately she was saved. A nice place to stop and take a break and appreciate the great views while on the Cliff Walk. This is also one of only two places on the Cliff Walk that has bathrooms so perhaps that's another reason to stop here. Nobody remembers who exactly first carved the first step but it certainly was a great idea. read more

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The forty steps are located about a half smile in from memorial drive on the cliff walk. One of my favorite thing to do is run up and down the steps while running the cliff walk. Besides the workout angle, it is a great view and amazing location to snap some pictures of first (Easton beach) and the ocean. After you get to the bottom of the stairs there is an opening to climb out on some of the rocks looking over the ocean. If your on the cliff walk, it's definitely worth checking out! read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Beautiful views. Lots of good photos, and right on the cliff walk. This is a great thing to do while in Newport. Parking is limited, but if you are patient you can get a good spot. We have been her twice, and were able to park without much hassle. The street leading to the 40 steps has metered parking at 1.25 per hour. If you type cliff walk parking on google maps it will give you various parking spots along the cliff walk including the one for the 40 steps. read more

The Forty Steps are a portion of the beautiful Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island. It is a nice little detour from the main walk. Just walk down the forty steps to a little viewpoint. Take some pictures and that's that. Good place to get some exercise by walking up and down the staircase. Better than using the Stairmaster at the gym. Beautiful scenery and fresh clean air. read more

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A neat staircase that takes you down to a rocky "beach" where you can sit and enjoy the water. To be honest, it's nothing exciting except you can say you went up and down the stairs. Do not take kids down the steps because they could easily fall and get hurt. I would not recommend using the stairs when wet. read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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The Forty Steps used to be the gathering place for the servants and workers from the nearby mansions. The steps were restored in early 1990's, now each step bears the name of the donor who spent $3000 each for their step. The steps are located a short distance from the start of the Cliff Walk. You can park your car on the street either at Narragansett Ave right near the steps or Memorial Boulevard where the Cliff Walk begins. There are a few porta potties near the steps. It's a nice place to stop along the Cliff walk, walk over to the rocks and enjoy the views of the Atlantic Ocean. Great spot for taking pictures. And for that same reason, you have to navigate your way around all the other people on the stairs. read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

The setting is stunning. The mansions overlooking the cliffs are beautiful. The Forty Steps are....well, they are steps that go down the cliff toward the water. Not really that spectacular by themselves. One cool thing is that if you go down the steps, and proceed clockwise out and around them (to the right/south) you will find a waterfall hidden in the cliff at low tide. I have heard word-of-mouth about the historical significance of the 40 Steps, but would like to see a marker at the location giving the information. Don't get me wrong, there IS a sign, but it says: "No bicycling, skating, picnicking, rock climbing, diving.....Dogs must be leashed. Violators will be fined" etc. The two times I have gone to the Steps it was pretty full since tour buses were emptying their contents on the sidewalk, so I suggest going on off hours. read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

Great place to walk and feel the ocean breeze. Bring your honey, your running shoes, camera, or family. Rocks are great for walking on, photo taking, picnicking, and I know there's a safe area to cliff jump into the ocean. If you're going to drive here, make sure you have the ability to parallel park and the tolerance to deal with crazy drivers. read more

The Forty Steps - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Forty Steps is a cool place to check out if you're touring the mansions or just taking a stroll along the Cliff Walk area. As someone else said, Forty Steps isn't that amazing on it's own - 5 minutes and you're basically done. You walk down the steps to the pit of the stairs, soak in the beautiful ocean/scenic views, take a few pictures, and if it's gusty that day - also get a wind beating on your face. Good luck taking selfies that don't show you eating your hair. The pit can probably only hold a handful of people, so be patient if you want to take photos without strangers in 'em. I wouldn't make it a trip down specifically for this attraction - rather, it's a stopping point for anyone walking/running along the Cliff Walk or for folks who are checking out all the mansions on the main strip (there seems to be a strip of pavement near the water that cuts you through the backsides of some of the buildings). Tip - park with caution. If you're parking along the side that's closer to Forty Steps, you should be fine. The street basically dead ends into Forty Steps and you should park there. I saw some cars parked further out closer to actual homes and there was someone handing out tickets. I almost parked there since EVERYONE was parked there, but you're not supposed to park there. Read signs carefully or use the parking lots of the mansions to be safe and to also avoid having to pay the meter. There is one machine to pay for parking at the dead end - make a note of your plate number since you need to input that into the machine. There can be a long wait - I literally waited 15 to 20 minutes for my turn as many people were waiting. There is a bathroom there if you're wondering. No need to pee into the ocean. read more

Oh Forty Steps...what can I say about the Forty Steps? Well...there are forty. Feel free to count. Aaaaand...yep. That's that. No, but seriously. It's a beautiful area with a neat little "attraction" which makes for some great photo ops. Parking is pretty cheap ($1.25/hour on a Friday afternoon). It's street parking but you pay at a computerized meter-type-machine (you'd think the wife of a Parking Enforcement Officer would know the lingo) and stick a little receipt on your dash then go about your business. There are bathrooms and a water fountain available, which is probably quite helpful for those who decide to hike the 3+ mile cliff walk. Those like myself who prefer to linger are still treated to a lovely little overlook to stare out at Easton Bay and the Atlantic. The steps themselves aren't super steep, but they are a tad slippery on account of the whole ocean thing. If you're feeling adventurous you can walk out on the rocks where there are a few drilled out fishing pole holes and try to catch some dinner. From the bottom of the steps (and with a pretty good telephoto lens) you can see a lighthouse in the distance across the bay. The surrounding area of mansions and cliffs is as beautiful as you'd expect. All in all, it's a nice little place to go exploring or just sit and relax for a bit. read more

The Forty Steps - Forty Steps - View from the top - Hiking Near Me - Newport, Rhode Island

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Honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The cliff walk in general is stunning, and the Forty Steps are equally spectacular. Romantic, views for miles, ocean air. There's a gap in the stone wall at the bottom of the overlook, where guests can choose to venture onto ocean rocks (at their own discretion -- this is not an official portion of the Steps or of the accompanying Cliff Walk). Even if it's your only or your fiftieth time in Newport, I highly recommend stopping here. Worth the drive. On the public bus line, if you don't have access to a car. My boyfriend and I return to Newport repeatedly just for this view. read more

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A true Childhood Memory! My maternal Grampa first took me there and my childhood awe has not faded during numerous visits over the years. i fondly remember the first time I took my son there and experienced it through him. My Grampa was one smart guy! Wear your best non-slip hikers or walking shoes for both safety and comfort. This is not a suitable climb for those requiring mobility assistive devices as the stairs are solid stone and tend to be a bit on the steep side, since they are very old and created by true artisans. The sea spray from the crashing waves on most days can be quite bracing and one might do well to have a waterproof/windproof jacket, but it's definitely worth the effort. read more

The steps itself were nothing to wrote home about. They take you closer to the ocean, but the views you can find are better on the actual cliff walk. Good place to start the walk though! Ample parking at $1.25/hr. (Max 4 hours) read more

Beautiful views!!! There is street parking right there and if I remember correctly, there is a four hour limit. Pay via kiosk. There are two massive single stall bathrooms with loads of toilet paper. There is a map so you can decide to go north or south. We went south to see more mansions. The route passes by the university. We went all the way to the tea house. Went into the creepy tunnel and rounded back. The views were awesome. Wish we can see the houses easier because there are high hedges. Felt like a paparazzi. Hahaha it was fun. There was a section where you have to jump from rock to rock to get farther down. It can get slippery on the rocks that slant down.... will come again to do the mansions tour!! read more

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The only place I really wanted to visit when I was in Rhode Island (partly because I had no clue where else to go). We parked by the beach and started walking on the Cliff Walk. The 40 steps is really really awesome. You walk down to the bottom and you are right in front of the rocks. You can definitely dive into the water. Also, there is a waterfall in the back of the rocks. It is really a stunning view. Must come here when in the area! read more

I'm not sure how many times I've walked Cliff walk but never noticed the forty steps! Located at the end of a street that in the off season allows parking right there, the walk down offers a closer look at the beautiful rocky shoreline the cliff walk skirts! A great photo spot and well worth the time to stop and check out! read more

If you're going to take the time to do the Cliff Walk, take the extra 10 mins and do the 40 steps! The pics from the bottom of the surf are so worth the butt burning exercise. read more

Forty steps, are just that forty steps down the side of a cliff. To be honest it's not that exciting but if you're a in group with some physical limitations, it does make the walk down to the water accessible to everyone. If you're in a fit group, I would say walk 1.5 miles further along the cliff walk where it's a bit more quiet. I think tour buses do a pit stop at 40 steps so it's always packed with people on summer weekends. read more

Over the years this spot has really shaped up and expanded. Being a Newport native I can say a lot of money, effort and love has gone into making Forty Steps easier to walk around, park, tourists to take photos and so on. But I would like to see just a little sign of the sorts explaining The Forty Steps for those who aren't locals. It looks a bit bizarre seeing a bunch of names on steps without explaining the purpose. The mansions and almost all of our other tourists spots have signs, statues, something to tell the story. Please bring some comfortable shoes, be prepared for wind, taking photos, dealing with oodles of people including runners or those who walk "too slow." read more

Very cool..... leads down to the ocean.... right next to the Cliff Walk.... a must see if you are going to Newport

It goes from the Cliff Side trail to the bottom of the cliff, next to the water. Very cool and a bit dangerous. One wrong move on the slippery rocks, you will be swimming or drowning. read more

Well, it is in fact 40 steps that go down to the water. Makes for an easy climb down, but in reality, heading further down the walk makes for easier access and way less crowds. The rocks here are pretty cool though. read more

The steps are well maintained, and the restrooms are really clean and well stocked, especially considering they get near constant use from sunrise to sunset. Gave 4 stars instead of 5 only because it would be amazing if they could install a water fountain or a water bottle filling station by the restrooms. After going down the steps, you can climb down onto the cliff to do a little exploring. Be sure to stay on the dry rocks only, as we witnessed a young man try to walk across the wet, algae covered rocks in sandals, only to fall and split his his eyebrow open, putting his entire family into a frenzy. read more

The steps proper are OK. What is really cool is what the stairs lead you to -- giant rocks that are fun to jump off into the ocean and go swimming. read more