Located on Route 2 in Gill, the recreation area features shaded walks, hiking trails, sunsets over the Connecticut River, quiet paddling in plunge pools of ancient waterfalls and viewing bald eagles around Barton Cove.
A shady area at Barton Cove is one of the many picnic sites at the Gill recreation area.GILL--Shhhh. It’s the quiet of Barton Cove that gives it such a special feeling, and yet, it’s only a few miles from the city of Greenfield.
“We’re out in the country, but it’s not wilderness,” says William J. Gabriel, manager of the environmental and recreation center at Northfield Mountain which oversees operations at the Barton Cove recreation and camping area.
The recreation and camping area is located on a rocky peninsula on the Connecticut River, just above the dam at Turners Falls. There’s a day-use picnic area, tent camping and canoe and kayak rentals.
This year, 10 new Wenonah Northfork canoes were purchased for the area’s fleet of 25.
The watercraft can be rented for two hours for $25, or all day for $40.
Located on Route 2 in Gill, the recreation area features shaded walks, hiking trails, sunsets over the Connecticut River, quiet paddling in plunge pools of ancient waterfalls and viewing bald eagles around Barton Cove.
The campground and river are generally more quiet during the week, so “if you want a more quiet experience, visit us during the week,” Gabriel said.
A scenic one-mile nature trail along a rocky ridge overlooks the river and passes an abandoned dinosaur footprint quarry. In the mid-1800s dinosaur tracks were excavated from the site for museums and collections.
The cost to camp at Barton Cove is $22 a night – tents only. There is limited car access, and the campground is alcohol free.
Showers and flush toilets are located in the picnic area, a short walk from the campground. The campground does have vault toilets and port-o-cans.
The 31-site campground with its spacious wooded sites is generally full on weekends, so reservations are recommended.
Gabriel estimates that about 6,000 campers, day users and paddlers visit Barton Cove each year.