Stroll the Sconset Bluff Walk in Nantucket
5/31/2024
Sconset Bluff Walk | 27 Bank St., Nantucket
Nantucket's coastal beauty has attracted visitors to the island for hundreds of years. Our guests love to explore the scenic landscape with bike rides, sails, and nature walks. In particular, one scenic trail offers a great way for visitors to get out and take in the beauty of the coast and the historic homes on the water that make Nantucket so magical. The Sconset Bluff Walk in Nantucket, which runs from the village of Siasconset (known as 'Sconset) to Sankaty Head Light, is a great way to enjoy the beauty of Nantucket and see some unspoiled views of the water and dunes.
The 'Sconset Bluff Walk is a unique path in that it's a public way that snakes through private property. Nantucket resident and developer William J. Flagg preserved the path in the late 1800s as he saw the picturesque village of 'Sconset being developed and threatening public access to the scenic coastal views. And Flagg was right in that the coast here is populated with large scenic homes overlooking the water. Instead of wondering what view those homeowners enjoy, you can now walk on a path that runs between the houses and the water—and enjoy the gorgeous view on your own.
To access the Sconset Bluff Walk, head down Front Street in Sconset. The beginning of the path will be on your right, before you reach Broadway (it's also marked on Google Maps). Over the years, erosion has taken out the end of the trail, so it doesn't quite go to Sankaty Head Light anymore, but ends on Baxter Road from which you can walk to the lighthouse. Enjoy meandering along this path, with its beach accesses (some are private, so make sure you pick a public one), views of the ocean and the cottages of Nantucket. Enjoy a stroll along this unique way in Nantucket next time you're on a lark to this charming New England island.