Read the cliff face from the bottom up and you are reading the last twenty thousand years: gray clay at the waterline, rust and ochre above it, and the moor holding the whole thing together at the top.
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Aquinnah is the western tip of Martha's Vineyard, past Chilmark, and the most dramatic coastline on the island: open ocean, the clay cliffs, and sunsets that turn the whole shoreline gold. Known as Gay Head between 1870 and 1997, Aquinnah remains one of the island's most naturally preserved areas.
This guide was written and photographed by MV Vacation, based on on-island filming, local documentation, and field research in 2025.
We respectfully acknowledge the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) as the original stewards of this land.
The Cliffs
The Aquinnah Cliffs are a designated National Natural Landmark with deep cultural significance to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Shaped by ancient glaciers and constant Atlantic surf, the cliffs reveal layers of clay ranging from deep gray and black to bright red and orange in the upper sections.
A
B
CA: red strata under February snow; B: clay in raking light; C: the wash of color below the scarp.
History
The Wampanoag presence in Aquinnah extends back more than 10,000 years. English colonists arrived in the mid-1600s on land the Wampanoag had lived on for thousands of years, and the Wampanoag are still here. They are an Algonquian-speaking people, related by language to many nations across the Northeast. The name "Wampanoag" means "People of the First Light."
If you're exploring the western side of the island, Menemsha Beach is the other sunset spot near Aquinnah.
The Cultural Center
Aquinnah (meaning "land under the hill") is still home to the Wampanoag community. The Aquinnah Cultural Center features historical exhibits, artifacts, and cultural programs.
The half hour after sunset, when the clay keeps its color and the crowd on the overlook goes quiet.
Finding Aquinnah
The Essentials
The essentials in Aquinnah
03 STOPSNative-owned shops and scenic overlook points.
Dine locally.
Seasonal tours, and the view from the top.
For real-time views of the island, visit our Island Live Webcams.
The Beaches
Beaches in Aquinnah
03 BEACHESThe town's famous public beach beneath the cliffs: paid lot in season, walk-ins free.
Resident sticker required in summer.
Calm Sound-side water; parking along Lobsterville Road is prohibited, so most people arrive by bike or on the Menemsha bike ferry.
Off-season light on the long beach under the cliffs.
Know Before You Go
Know before you go
This is Wampanoag tribal land: climbing the cliffs or taking any clay is prohibited, and the Tribe enforces it.
VTA Route 3 (fare-free through June 30, 2027) from the Vineyard Haven ferry (hourly at :07) to West Tisbury, then Route 5 from the Grange Hall stop to the Gay Head Lighthouse, about 55 minutes all in. Last bus back on a summer Saturday is 10:05 PM. The printed 11:05 PM is canceled for 2026. Step-by-step from each town in How to Get There by Bus.
Aquinnah is accessible by car, by VTA Route 5 with a change at West Tisbury, and by bike via State Road through Chilmark. That same transfer links Aquinnah with Vineyard Haven and Edgartown.
Getting to Aquinnah
For practical tips, see our Martha's Vineyard FAQ.
The lighthouse at sunset, moved 129 feet inland in 2015 to outrun the eroding cliff.
The Record
Aquinnah, in brief
Aquinnah on Film
From Our LensThe cliffs in every light.35 photographs · View the Aquinnah gallery
+31Keep Reading
Keep reading
Three free downloads · 2026The Beach Guide, the Fall Guide and Where to StayEvery beach decoded, the fall season date by date, and every town and price band for sleeping over: three PDFs, free with the island letter.No spam, one click to leave. See a sample firstAquinnah on film
The cliffs, the lighthouse and the road out to them.
Aquinnah Martha's Vineyard
Oak Bluffs Summer Day Sunset at Lobsterville Bar and Grille and A Car Ride To Vineyard Haven
Scenic Winter Drive Through Martha's Vineyard, West Tisbury to Aquinnah Cliffs Ride
Island video
Wampanoag Sneak Up Dance Aquinnah
Aquinnah Beach 4K, , , Ocean Waves and Seagulls at Rest, Martha's Vineyard