Beach Walks to Dig Your Toes Into

Rhode Island’s “Ocean State” motto is a fitting one. Despite its 50-mile-long, 30-mile-wide size, Rhode Island has 420 miles of coast, a rich pastiche of estuaries, islands, bays and barrier beaches. No spot in the state is more than 25 miles from the ocean.

Narragansett Bay, extending 25 miles north from Point Judith to Pawtucket, is New England’s largest estuary. The state has some fine lakes and ponds, as well as Great Swamp, one of the region’s largest freshwater wetlands.

Two of my favorite Rhode Island beach walks--Napatree Point and Ninigret Beach--explore the southwestern corner of the state.

Napatree Point

Napatree Point has something to please every coast walker: a long length of sand, dunes, a bay, waterfowl of every description and the ruins of an old fort.

For a grand tour of the point, begin with a 1.7-mile-long ramble along the shell- and starfish-strewn sandy beach. After the curving beach route meets some boulders, join a sandy patch ascending a low, brushy ridge to the ruins of Ft. Mansfield. Cross the narrow point over to the other side and return along the bay shore.

Access: From Interstate 95, take the southernmost Rhode Island exit, Exit 1, and proceed four miles southwest on Rhode Island 3. Turn left (south) on RI-78 and drive another four miles to a junction with RI-A. Head south to Avondale, then bear right onto Watch Hill Road. Once in Watch Hill, search for a parking space (difficult on a warm summer’s day) either along the street or in the Watch Hill Mall parking lot.

At the end of the mall lot, join a road that extends past some private beach cabanas to a fence. Walk the sandy trail and you’ll soon reach a junction. Bear left to the beach, right to the bay.

Ninigret Beach

A three-mile-long sand strand extending between the Atlantic Ocean and Ninigret Pond beckons coast walkers to Ninigret Beach in Charlestown. On a clear day the beach glistens, Block Island floats upon the horizon 12 miles offshore, and you can see your goal from the trail head--Charlestown Breechway.

Ninigret is a barrier beach, protecting the southern Rhode Island coastline from the sometimes nasty storms that descend on Block Island Sound and lash the mainland.

After a very pleasant walk up Ninigret Beach, you’ll arrive at Charlestown Breechway. At the rocky end of the barrier beach, watch the boats entering and exiting the channel, then head inland and join either of two sand roads that extend behind the dunes. The road near the pond offers better water-bird-watching opportunities. Follow the road back to the trail head, pausing to bird-watch.

Access: From U.S. 1 in Charlestown, just east of its junction with RI-2166, turn toward the ocean (south) on signed East Beach Road. Follow the road (the last segment is dirt) to the Rhode Island State Parks parking area located between Ninigret Pond and Ninigret Beach.

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Napatree Point, Ninigret Beach Trail

Where: Napatree Point, Ninigret Beach.

Distance: Along Napatree Point from Watch Hill to Ft. Manfield Ruins is 3.5 miles round trip: along Ninigret Beach to Charlestown Breechway is 6 miles round trip.

Terrain: San strands, dunes, bay.

Highlights: Classic New England beaches, excellent bird-watching.

Degree of difficulty: Easy to moderate.

For more information: Rhode Island Tourism Division, 7 Jackson Walkway, Providence, RI 02903: tel. (800) 556-2484.