Newburyport’s Harborwalk offers scenery and surprises at every turn

Visiting Newburyport without walking part or all of the 2 mile Harborwalk would be a big miss! The walk is part of the larger Clipper City Rail Trail which winds though residential sections of Newburyport. This provides an opportunity to extend your walk if you want to explore away from the river. Harborwalk includes paved and boardwalk sections that follow the Merrimack River from Cashman Park upstream, under the Route 1 overpass, past restaurants and marinas to Waterfront Park in the center of Newburyport. Continuing downstream, you’ll pass the Coast Guard station to wide-open marshland and water views out to the open ocean.

Several unique features make Harborwalk a standout. The city has populated the walk with over a dozen trailside sculptures that are delightful to encounter. You’ll also encounter plenty of places to rest, converse and take in the beautiful views. Benches, Adirondack chairs and creatively conceived chaise lounges are interspersed along the way.

Where to start

A convenient place to start your walk is at the town parking lot adjacent to Waterfront Park. Our suggestion is to head downriver on the boardwalk past docked boats and walk the length of Harborwalk, which ends at Neptune Street. When you return to Waterfront Park, it’s worth exploring upriver to the Route 1 bridge where you’ll find several intriguing sculptures. For the curious, another half mile will bring you to the Harborwalk terminus at the North End Boat Club.