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Mohegan Bluffs, New Shoreham, RI

Photo: PA Uploader, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

Sport & OutdoorOutdoor AdventureFree

Mohegan Bluffs

Edward S. Payne Overlook, off Mohegan Trail · New Shoreham, RI

Why you should go…

Mohegan Bluffs are clay cliffs about 150 feet high on the southern shore of Block Island, near the Southeast Lighthouse. From the Edward S. Payne Overlook you look out over the Atlantic, and on a clear day you may spot Montauk. A steep staircase of 141 steps leads down toward the beach below. Erosion closed the bottom of the stairs in June 2024, so check posted signs before you count on reaching the sand.

  • #block island
  • #sea cliffs
  • #scenic overlook
  • #beach stairs

Good to know

General sport & outdoor guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Weather calls the shots

    Check the forecast the morning of and keep an indoor backup in your pocket for the day it turns.

  • Shoes, water, sun cover

    The three things that decide whether you last the whole outing or cut it short after an hour.

  • Parking and launches fill early

    On a nice weekend, lots and trailheads are often full by mid-morning.

  • Daylight shrinks in shoulder season

    Spring and fall visits need an earlier start than the same trip in July.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Mohegan Bluffs, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Block Island

    Free

    A low-key Rhode Island island getaway known for bluffs, beaches, and a lighthouse-dotted coast.

    2.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Block Island Ferry

    $25–$50

    Year-round ferry service across Narragansett Bay from Point Judith to Block Island, plus a faster seasonal high-speed option.

    16 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Misquamicut State Beach

    Under $25

    Swim and sunbathe on a lifeguarded Atlantic barrier beach with a pavilion, showers and snack stand.

    18 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    The Velvet Mill

    Free

    A restored 1892 mill in Stonington Borough now filled with artist studios, shops and eateries.

    22 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Ocean Drive

    Free

    Drive 10 miles of Newport shoreline past beaches, Gilded Age mansions, Fort Adams and Brenton Point.

    24 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center

    Under $25

    A nature preserve near Mystic with miles of trails and live-animal exhibits.

    25 mi awayMore like this