A gentle beach…read more Block Island has over 17 miles of beaches. That's a lot for a small island, You can find crowded, sandy beaches, remote rocky beaches, beaches with cliffs, beaches with dunes or beaches with crashing surf. Just about anything you want. If what you happen to want is a quiet, gentle beach then go to Coast Guard Beach. This beach is located on the breach of the Great Salt Pond so it's sheltered from most of the huge surf or large waves found on most other Block Island beaches. It has a nice sandy beach area with few rocks and great views of both the ocean and the salt pond. Since it is shallow and protected the water is usually a bit warmer than the chilly open ocean beaches and you don't get quite the howling winds of other spots. It's a great place to hang out but the currant does get pretty feisty at times in the middle of the breach so if you attempt to swim across to the other side you better know what you are doing or you'll probably die. It's a bit tricky to find the beach, you have to first find Coast Guard Road and then park at the old Coast Guard Station. Then look for the little and colorful beach sign. It leads through some bushes and beach roses but after a short walk you'll be at the beach. In the winter you'll have the place all to yourself but in the summer months it can be a bit crowded but never as busy as the town beach or the popular Mohegan Bluffs. Always plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy some peace and quiet. Like all beaches on Block Island there is no admission charge and if something unexpected happens the coast guard station is right next door. This beach is a great little spot to enjoy the smell, sounds and feel of salt water when wind, waves and crowds are a bit too much on the other beaches. A gentle beach

A nice place with a…read morebad name It certainly doesn't have the most attractive name but it is a lovely place. Whenever we bike down to North Lighthouse at the tip of Corn Neck Road we stop here for a little break to see the Great Salt Pond. There is a parking lot by the boardwalk that holds a dozen or so cars and it's seldom filled. Most of the area is salt marsh so you have to pretty much stay on the boardwalk until you get to the beach. then you can walk along the beach or just take in the great views of the salt pond. The area is frequented by large numbers of different wildfowl so it's a good spot for birdwatching. Unfortunately there is some validity to the name. There are mosquitoes. and ticks and biting files, so bring strong bug repellent if you plan on spending any time here.

This is a cute little spot to bring young children since they can walk right into the water. It…read moresits on Great Salt Pond so there aren't any big waves and the water is warmer and calm. We also noticed paddle boarders and kayakers entering the bay from this spot so that was fun for my 20 month old godson to watch.

Do you want a peaceful oceanside oasis that's less crowded? Beautiful sand? Crashing waves and…read morecrystal blue water? Mansion Beach has it all, and as a bonus, there's a new bathroom facility. I love that this beach is situated on the northern side of the island near Clayhead Trail. It's just far enough from the ferry landing that you get more locals. Tip: hold on to your bottoms when you go in the water. The waves and current can be strong.

Sea and wind but no…read morepeople Nobody goes to Vaill Beach. Not even locals. That's what makes it so cool. It's down on Snake Hole Road, If you look carefully you will see a path leading off the first major bend in the small rough road. Most people can't even find Snake Hole because it doesn't really look like a road. Follow the steep, rocky, very slippery path off the bend in the road until you get to the end. Look to the east and about 50 meters away you will see Vaill Beach. The first thing to do is listen. You will hear wind and sea. Perhaps an osprey but nothing else. No sounds of civilization. Tourists dare not venture here. Just to far and hard to find. Then take a look. Since Vaill is on the isolated south side of the island you probably won't even see a boat. Nothing but sea. Speaking of the sea, it can be extremely rough here. The fetch after all is about 3,000 miles. Don't even think about swimming unless you are very confident in your abilities. If you get into trouble there is nobody to save your butt. They'll probably find your body in Spain. One of the great things about the beach is that because of the rough conditions the area is always changing. I have seen the beach very rocky with large boulders and then a month later no rocks, just soft deep sand. A very strange, wild and pristine place. So if you want something different, away from the noises, sights and smells of the tourists and civilization, take the time and effort to seek out Vaill beach. Better yet don't. I'm selfish and want to keep this place all to myself.

One of the walking trails near the landing. Good views and an easy climb. A nice way to start…read moreyour day on the island. Close to Ballards so if they have a band, you won't want to stay long.

A nice place to see…read more the sea As the name implies, Ocean View Park is a park right on the ocean. Actually over looking the ocean would be a better description because it's located way up on one of the many high bluffs that make up Block Island. The island is a terminal moraine, a gift from the last ice age when the glacier scraped up strata and other older material from the bottom of the ocean and dumped it here when the glacial started melting. The bluffs and boulders are the only thing that keeps the island from being reclaimed by Poseidon. Even though Ocean View Park is only a ten or fifteen minute walk from Old Harbor and the ferry landing, virtually no one goes here except some local people to eat lunch. That's because it's hidden off to the side of a dead end road and is difficult to see. One of those places you have to know exactly where to look. The park has a cool gazebo thing, a few benches, a small board way and of course great views of the ocean. It's not really large enough for a long walk and up too high for easy access to the water; it's more of a place to just relax, look at the water or eat lunch. On the south side of the park some interesting foundations and ruins of buildings can be seen. I have asked about them but have received various stories about their origins. Makes for an interesting discussion but it also makes me wonder if anyone really knows. One person told me they are the remains of an old farm house that burned down and another delineated a long tale about a hotel that got destroyed in a hurricane. Someone else told an interesting but very questionable story about the Manisses Tribe building the structure to hold weapons for war. As with most things, who knows what the truth really is. A cool little park that is a great place for a quick bite to eat, a great view of the ocean or have some fun digging around in some old ruins. A nice place to see the sea.

Made my way back, and the rumors were true. Go down the stairs, head a little ways to the right,…read moreand the beach becomes clothing optional. Its technically illegal, but its a wink-wink type thing. So if that's your thing, partake away. Even without that experience, it still offers some great views.

Great day trip! The ferry ride to Block Island is about an hour and is a nice way to start the…read moretrip. Plan on spending the whole day because there's a lot to see. Renting a bike, moped, or electric car is the best way to get around the island. The beaches are beautiful, and it's a huge plus that they're dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup along. If you're looking for a relaxing day with great scenery, beaches, and sightseeing, Block Island is definitely worth the trip.

This is one of those places I wish I could give more than 5 stars to. It's that's beautiful…read more Rodman's Hollow is indeed a hollow, sort of a big hole in the landscape. It's a bit under 50 acres and is crossed with hiking trails. 50 acres might not sound like much but since the trails go up and down and all around you can spend hours exploring this place. The Hollow was formed during the last period of glaciation, about 20,000 years ago and is the only know habitat of a small vole like creature. Don't plan on actually seeing the beast because they are reported to be extremely shy, but I have seen very small trails in the grass that might be made by the voles. Unfortunately besides the voles Rodman's Hollow is also home to an enormous amount of ticks. If you do go hiking make sure you take a bath in tick repellent or you might be taking home more than just fond memories. Rodman's Hollow is a relatively short bike ride from the center of town and only a few miles from Southeast Lighthouse. It's a incredible beautiful part of Block Island that unfortunately few people take the time to visit.

BI has done an outstanding job of preserving their green-space. Unfortunately they've done a…read moremiserable job of providing maps of any kind, most significantly lacking in trail maps. Rodman's Hollow is gorgeous and can keep you meandering for an afternoon. If you're an average hiker, or really anyone in good health, the BI trails will not be too challenging and they're full of gorgeous rewards. If you're not up for a long hike or any moderately challenging inclines, you may find yourself facing more of a hike than you'd hoped for since getting information about trails is the only downside to BI hiking.

An adventure on Clay Head Trail was the perfect mid-afternoon side quest to get out of the main…read moredrag & enjoy the unique beauty of Block Island. The parking lot at the trailhead is located down a dirt road off which can be a bit treacherous for two wheeled devices, so proceed with caution. It was a dry day when we visited, but I still noticed the remains of squishy spots. I would recommend some sturdy shoes for damper days, unless you don't mind getting your feet a little mucky. The walk to the beach is easy, quick, & gorgeous with lucious nature on all sides. The rocks on the beach are remarkable & well worth taking note of. So many unique shapes & colors. I spotted some of the roundest rocks I've ever seen in my life - Perfect egg shapes & disc shapes. Continuing back on the main path will lead you through a surreal field of rippling, golden, tall grass & to a vantage point where the bluffs are visible. Take caution! Erosion is real & so is the danger of tumbling down the bluffs. Give the edge more space than you might give a super solid cliff. Lastly but certainly not least - L.N.T. Leave No Trace! Protect this beautiful nature sanctuary & the rugged beauty of Block Island.

My friends and I hiked this 3.5 mile picturesque trail along the bluffs on the east side of the…read moreisland, winding its uphill and downhill at various points. The trail was a bit overgrown which is a shame. One of my friends had a branch that accidentally hit her in the face, and my other friend lost her footing at one point. Although there were signs along the edge, warning hikers to not get too close because of the dangerous erosion, I could see kids testing that theory. At the midpoint, the trail features a unique tree and views of the ocean where you can easily see the wind farms and ferry. I'd give it 5 stars if the trail was better groomed.