Barton Cove Campground and Canoe/Kayak Rentals Office Directions

Barton Cove is located on Route 2, in Gill, Massachusetts.

• From the North or South via Route 91: Take exit 27, travel East for 3 miles on Route 2, campground entrance is on your right.
• From the East via Route 2: Cross the Connecticut River on the French King Bridge, go approximately 3 miles, campground office is on your left, one-quarter mile past the campground entrance.

Canoe/Kayak Rentals

Barton Cove has 50 water craft that can be rented by the hour, the day, or longer. We have a fleet of rugged, easy to paddle, late-model Old Town Discovery Canoes, as well as a fleet of Old Town Loon Kayaks. We offer several double kayaks. Each rental comes complete with PFD’s (personal flotation devices), and either paddles, or oars.

Rental Fees
Canoes/Kayaks: 0-2 hours:	$25
Canoes/Kayaks: by the day:	$40 per day
Canoes/Kayaks: 2-day rental:	$65 per 2 days

Shuttle Drop-off Sites and Prices

• Riverview Picnic Area in Northfield Massachusetts: $50.00 per boat includes one day canoe rental (5-mile downstream trip, average paddling time 3 hours).
• Pauchaug State Boat Ramp in Northfield, Massachusetts: $55.00 per boat includes one day canoe rental (14 mile downstream trip, average paddling time 7 hours.
• Governor Hunt Recreation Area in Vernon, Vermont: $85.00 per boat includes two day canoe rental (20 mile downstream trip, average paddling time 10 hours; good starting point if you plan to camp at the Munns Ferry boat camping area--reservations required).

Canoeing the Connecticut River

The 20 mile section of the Connecticut between dams at Vernon, Vermont and Turners Falls, Massachusetts boasts deep water, scenic vistas, camping opportunities, and more. It’s an area rich in history and wildlife, with a unique geological past.

The 20-mile Vernon shuttle disembarks at the Governor Hunt Recreation Area below Vernon Dam. This is a good starting point for canoeists wishing to camp at Munns Ferry Campground. About 5 miles of relatively easy paddling will take you across the Vermont/New Hampshire state line into Massachusetts, where you can see Pauchaug Meadow on the east bank, once a gathering place for local Native Americans.

Pauchaug Boat Ramp is the 14-mile shuttle drop-off location. Rounding a wide bend in the river you’ll see Moose Plain on the west bank as you approach the Schell Bridge. In the distance beyond the Plain is a jumble of hills known as Satan's Kingdom, created by glacial deposits. Half a mile downstream you pass under a railroad bridge--the site of Northfield's first ferry. Follow the river past Great Meadow and a series of fields and plains until you pass beneath the broad Route 10 bridge. Bennett Meadow Wildlife Area is on the west bank here. You may pass ducks, egrets, great blue herons, king fishers, and ospreys in season. A couple miles downstream is Munns Ferry, the last ferry to operate in Massachusetts. It’s a great place to camp or picnic.

Our 5-mile Riverview shuttle is our most popular day trip. Riverview features a beautiful picnic area just across Rt. 63 from the Northfield Mountain Visitors Center. The river follows a fault line here, running through the spectacular French King Gorge with its 250 foot high rocky banks, then past the French King Rock and under the graceful arch of the French King Bridge. Proceeding downstream and through the Narrows you will reach Barton Cove, your journey’s end. Take time to explore the nooks of this peninsula. The rock formations are fascinating, and you will see a multitude of wildflowers and ferns--not to mention shore birds—and possibly nesting bald eagles.

Visit our Turners Falls Dam Portage page for portage information. See our newsletters for more canoe/kayak offerings or click here to get your own free e-mail news letter e-mailed directly to you. Newsletter e-mail lists are not shared with others.

Whatever the length of your outing, it is important to be educated about all aspects of the proposed trip. Be sure to bring along all appropriate equipment, prepare yourself physically and assess your skills before setting out.

If you would like more information, please call Barton Cove at: (413) 863-9300.