North Light

Sandy Point reaches out from the north end of Block Island into waters where currents and shifting shoals have wrecked countless ships over the centuries. The hazard was serious enough that the government built a light here in 1829, but the ever-moving sand and erosion defeated one tower after another.

The lighthouse standing today is the fourth, completed in 1867 and built of durable Connecticut granite to withstand the exposure that had doomed its predecessors. Its solid, boxy form, with the tower rising from the keeper's dwelling, was made for endurance rather than elegance, and it has held its ground on the point for over a century and a half.

There is no road to North Light. From the end of Corn Neck Road, visitors walk out along the beach for roughly a mile, over soft sand and rounded cobbles, with the ocean on both sides as the spit narrows toward the point. It is a moderate trek that keeps the crowds thin and makes the arrival feel earned.

Along the way the character of the island's wild side reveals itself: dune grass, driftwood, and the constant work of wind and wave. The effort of the walk, and the absence of any services at the end, are exactly what preserve the sense of solitude that makes the point special.

Sandy Point and its surrounding waters form a national wildlife refuge, and the area is one of the best places on the island to see wildlife. In the cooler months harbor seals haul out on the sand and rocks near the point, and the beach and shallows draw gulls, terns, sandpipers, and migrating shorebirds in large numbers.

Because it is protected habitat, visitors are asked to give nesting birds and resting seals a wide berth and to stay off marked dune areas. Block Island as a whole is a major stopover on the Atlantic flyway, and the north end is one of its richest corners for birds.

Block Island is a glacial island, a heap of clay, sand, and boulders left by the ice age and then cut off from the mainland as the seas rose. Sandy Point is the northern edge of that pile, constantly rebuilt and reshaped by the currents that sweep around it, which is why lighthouses here have never been able to trust the ground.

The Manisseans, the island's Native people related to the Niantic and Narragansett, knew these shores for thousands of years before the lighthouses came, and the Narragansett Tribe remains part of Rhode Island today. The endless remaking of Sandy Point is a reminder that this island is a living, moving thing rather than a fixed piece of land.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The North Light, at the northern tip of Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island, is a historic granite lighthouse standing at the end of a long sandy point, a beautiful and remote landmark guarding treacherous waters. This handsome nineteenth-century stone lighthouse, reached by a walk along a sandy beach and spit, has long warned mariners away from the dangerous shoals off the island's northern end, and today it houses a small maritime museum and stands amid a wildlife refuge rich in birds. Its scenic isolation and history make it a rewarding destination. A picturesque and storied lighthouse, it delights visitors. With its lighthouse and setting, the North Light offers a rewarding destination in Rhode Island.

You can walk the sandy beach and point out to the historic granite lighthouse, visit the small maritime museum it houses when open, enjoy the wildlife refuge and its birds, and take in the remote coastal scenery and ocean views. The picturesque lighthouse, the scenic walk out to it, the maritime museum, and the birdlife of the refuge are the draws, making it a rewarding outing for those who make the trek. Its remote setting is part of the appeal. With its lighthouse and setting, the North Light offers a rewarding experience on Block Island, Rhode Island.

Reaching the North Light involves a walk along a sandy beach and point that can be a fair distance and tiring in soft sand, so wearing suitable footwear, bringing water and sun protection, and allowing time are wise, as there is little shade. The surrounding area is a wildlife refuge, so staying on the beach and paths and respecting nesting-bird areas and any seasonal closures protect the habitat. The lighthouse museum keeps seasonal hours. Preparing for the walk and respecting the refuge ensure a rewarding visit to the North Light in Rhode Island.

The warm months of late spring through early fall are the best time to visit, when Block Island is in season, the weather is pleasant for the beach walk to the lighthouse, the maritime museum is generally open, and the ferries run most frequently. Because reaching Block Island requires a ferry with a seasonal schedule and the museum is seasonal, checking current ferry times and hours before you go is important. For the best weather and access, aim for late spring through early fall at the North Light in Rhode Island.

The North Light is at the northern tip of Block Island off the Rhode Island coast, within reach of the island's other attractions, including the Mohegan Bluffs, the beaches, and the town of New Shoreham, all reached by ferry from the mainland. That makes the North Light a rewarding stop to combine with the Mohegan Bluffs and the other attractions of Block Island on a visit to Rhode Island.