Growing up in Rhode Island, I’ve done my fair share of hiking, mainly with my sister and either my dad or uncle. When hanging out with our uncle, day trips typically included heading over the bridge to Newport and hiking around Fort Adams State Park. To this day, this is one of my favorite areas in the state for a hike. Upon our first visit, we expected to see only the ruins of Fort Adams there, yet one of the biggest surprises to me was the other historic sites within the park. A hike along the Fort Adams Bay Walk is full of fascinating surprises and adventure.
Built between 1824 and 1857 and named after President John Adams, Fort Adams was the largest fort of its kind in the U.S. Its purpose was to protect the coast at the entry points of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. The fort was decommissioned in 1953, and in 1965, it was given to the state to create Fort Adams State Park. Fort Adams was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1971.
Walking the grounds of Fort Adams along the Bay Walk trail, it’s an overwhelming reminder of the Ocean State’s maritime history. With each step along the path winding its way along the coast and around the grounds of the fort, it’s hard to imagine that this massive fort has been standing for over 200 years and was never attacked during any of the five wars it was active.
Continuing along the Bay Walk, you’ll eventually see the Fort Adams Cemetery with the oldest graves dating back to 1836. Many who were laid to rest here were members of the military who had served at Fort Adams.
For me, one of the most surprising buildings on this hike through Fort Adams State Park was seeing the Eisenhower House for the first time. The stately manse was built in 1873 for—I’m sure you can guess—President Dwight D. Eisenhower. In fact, the home, which overlooks the Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor, was the former president’s summer White House. The state acquired this historic home in the 1960s, and today it can be rented out for weddings and other events.
The Fort Adams Bay Walk is one of the most memorable hikes I’ve done in Rhode Island because of the historic buildings and the scenic bay and harbor views. At two miles long and mostly flat, it’s considered an easy trail. Most of the trail is paved, while other parts are gravel or natural, measuring between four and eight feet wide. Visit AllTrails for additional trail and parking information…