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A wide view across the flat, glassy water of Barton Cove on a summer afternoon. Low forested ridges run across the far shore, with a few small buildings and what look like moored boats just visible at the distant shoreline. A small rocky outcrop with a single young pine sits low in the water on the right. Tree branches frame the upper right and lower left of the frame. Tall summer cumulus clouds drift across a hazy blue sky and reflect on the calm surface.
Outdoors · Waterway
Barton Cove on the Connecticut River, Gill, Massachusetts, July 2025. Photo by Ethan Long, source, CC BY 4.0.

Barton Cove

Gill, Franklin County

Category
Waterway
Town
Gill
County
Franklin
Dogs
Yes

Barton Cove is a quiet arm of the Connecticut River on the Turners Falls impoundment, just upstream of the Turners Falls dam. The cove itself is a long peninsula of conifer forest jutting out into the river; the water is flat enough to paddle with a beginner, and the cove has been home to a nesting pair of bald eagles since the early 1980s, among the first to return to Massachusetts after the species’ DDT-era collapse.

FirstLight Power, which operates the Turners Falls hydroelectric station, manages the recreation area.

What to know

  • Paddle rentals. Canoes and kayaks are available seasonally from the boat launch. For 2026, FirstLight lists rentals at $25 for up to 2 hours, $40 for up to 4 hours, and $50 for 4-8 hours.
  • Campground. A small seasonal campground sits at the base of the peninsula. For 2026, FirstLight lists Barton Cove camping from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, with online reservations opening April 8.
  • Nature trail. A short, flat loop runs the length of the peninsula; look for eagle nests in the tall pines near the tip.
  • Access. Entrance is off Route 2 in Gill, a few minutes east of the Turners Falls bridge. Campground/rental office hours are 9 AM-5 PM Monday-Friday and 9 AM-6 PM Saturday-Sunday in season.

Sources