Clay Head Trail (Block Island) Hiking Guide
The Clay Head Trail is Block Island's best-known bluff hike. From a dirt lane off Corn Neck Road, about three miles north of the ferry landing at Old Harbor, the trail drops to a quiet beach, then climbs onto clay bluffs and follows them north toward Sachem Pond and the North Light. Overlooks look back to Old Harbor and across to the mainland. You have to take a ferry to get here, so this is a full-day trip from Providence.
Getting There: The Ferry
The Block Island Ferry's traditional boat sails from Point Judith in Narragansett to Old Harbor. The schedule posted on October 31, 2026 listed departures from Point Judith at 8:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and from Block Island at 9:45 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. That makes the 8 a.m. out and the 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. back the practical day trip. Adult fares are $12.30 one way, $22.60 for a same-day round trip or $24.60 if you return another day; seniors 65 and over pay $11.80, $21.60 and $23.60, and children 5 to 11 pay $5.15, $9.30 and $10.30. A bike costs $3.50 each way. Same-day tickets must be bought at the terminal. Schedules change with the season, so check blockislandferry.com before you go.
Trailhead and Distance
On Corn Neck Road, look for "Clay Head Trail" in red vertical letters on a pole across from the transfer station sign; a 0.4-mile dirt driveway leads to a kiosk and bike racks. From Old Harbor it is about three miles, so bring a bike or arrange a ride. The Nature Conservancy lists the Clay Head Trail at 2.8 miles one way. The Outbound maps the common out-and-back at 3.58 miles with about 190 feet of climbing, and that is the figure used here. Clayhead Beach is only 0.3 mile in, past a small footbridge. The bluff trail turns off just before it and climbs once, then stays mostly level along the top, weaving between fields, bayberry and overlooks.
The Maze and the Bluff Edge
About 10 more miles of footpath, known as the Maze, wind through the interior. They are unmarked on purpose, and the Conservancy says to walk east toward the sound of waves if you get turned around. The marked yellow Long Lot Trail (0.6 mile) connects to the Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve, 0.3 mile farther north on Corn Neck Road, for a longer loop. The bluff top is fragile and undercut in places, so stay back from the edge. The bluffs are the only Rhode Island nesting site for bank swallows and barn owls, and the shrubs here make Clay Head one of the most important stops for migrating songbirds on the Atlantic Coast.
Rules, Dogs and Ticks
Clay Head is private land owned by the Lapham family, managed with the Conservancy, DEM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and open to the public by the family's generosity. Follow the "Walkers Welcome" signs and respect the family's privacy. The Conservancy allows dogs if they stay leashed the whole time. Bikes are not allowed on the trails. Preserve hours run from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Ticks are very common on Block Island, and the Conservancy suggests long pants tucked into socks and clothing treated with permethrin. Bayberry and poison ivy line the bluff path.
Island Deer Season
Block Island is its own deer zone, Zone 4. For 2026 it has archery, muzzleloader and shotgun hunting on set weekdays: November 2-6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 23, 24 and 30, and December 1, 3, 4, 7-11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 21 and 22. Archery-only days in October have already passed. The Conservancy's Clay Head page says nothing about hunting on this private land, but wearing an orange hat or vest is sensible on any hunt day on the island.
Hiking tips for Clay Head Trail (Block Island)
- Book the 8 a.m. traditional ferry from Point Judith for a day trip, and buy a same-day round trip for $22.60.
- Bring a bike on the ferry ($3.50 each way) for the three miles from Old Harbor to the trailhead.
- If you get lost in the Maze, walk east toward the surf and you will reach the bluff trail.
- Tuck your pants into your socks; the Conservancy warns that ticks are very common on the island.
- Stay well back from the bluff edge, which is undercut in places.
Nearby trails to explore
- Napatree Point Trail (Watch Hill)
- Cliff Walk (Newport)
- Flint Point and Ocean View Loops (Sachuest Point)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
A Block Island day trip is more fun with a crew for the ferry ride. Post a Clay Head hike on TrailMates, sort out the Point Judith departure and who brings bikes in the event's group chat, and meet at the terminal. Download TrailMates on the App Store or Google Play.