FirstLight Power to Reopen Northfield Mountain Visitor Center and River Boat Cruises
FirstLight Power to Reopen Northfield Mountain Visitor Center and River Boat Cruises; Highlights Programs & Activities for Summer 2023
FirstLight Power in Northfield, Massachusetts to offer a wide variety of warm weather recreational opportunities and programs to the public at their four-season facility.
Northfield, MA – June 21, 2023 – FirstLight Power, a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company, today announced the summer recreation plans in Franklin County at the company’s Northfield Mountain facility situated along a sweep of the mountainside and throughout a beautiful 7-mile stretch of the Connecticut River. Following state and federal announcements around the COVID-19 pandemic, activities this year will be back to normal with no restrictions. Notably, FirstLight will fully reopen the Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, and it will be offering scenic river boat cruises starting on June 29, 2023.
“FirstLight Power is thrilled to fully reopen our Northfield Mountain recreation facilities to the public, welcoming back visitors that have enhanced local tourism and supported local businesses in Franklin County for over 50 years,” said Andy Brydges, Director of Community Relations for FirstLight Power. “We invite the community to come to beautiful Franklin County to explore the environment here by hiking on the trails, camping, canoeing, and touring the waterways by canoe or boat.”
The following is an overview of the facilities and activities that are now available and fully open for the public to enjoy:
- Riverview Park – Across the street from the Visitor Center and adjacent to the Connecticut River, Riverview Park offers picnic tables with wonderful river views, a large Pavilion for rental, and the Connecticut River Cruise – FirstLight’s scenic riverboat, Heritage, will be journeying down the Connecticut River with a new boat captain this year. Guests can enjoy a relaxing and informative journey down the French King Gorge, one of the most scenic stretches of the Connecticut River in Massachusetts. This 12-mile narrated cruise takes 1.5 hours. Cruises are set to begin on June 29. Guests can check here for updates.
- Visitor Center – Northfield Mountain’s Recreation and Environmental Center will be back open to the public starting on June 29, including access for self-guided tours of the Visitor Center Museum exhibits. In addition to access to the Visitor Center, guests can explore twenty-six miles of traditional hiking trails that wind past streams, hemlock groves, old rock quarries, and the striking Rose Ledge cliffs. FirstLight’s Visitor Center also offers facility rentals of its yurt and Visitor Center Auditorium for large groups. For more information, including trail maps and reports, click here.
- Barton Cove and Munn’s Ferry Campgrounds – Barton Cove Campground will be open seven days a week until Labor Day. Specializing in tent only camping, each site includes a sand filled platform for comfortable tent placement, a picnic table, an elevated charcoal grill, and a campfire ring with a flip back grill. Munn’s Ferry in Northfield is a small camping area only accessible by boat. It is open through Columbus Day. Online camping reservations or reservations by phone 413-863-9300 or in person are available.
- Barton Cove Canoe and Kayak Rentals – Barton Cove also offers 50 watercraft including canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards that are available for rent from two hours up to a full day. Each rental comes with personal flotation devices and paddles. Call 413- 863-9300 for more information or book here.
For more information on FirstLight’s recreation areas and upcoming programs, please visit https://firstlight.energy/recreation/.
About FirstLight Power
FirstLight Power (FirstLight) is a leading clean power producer, developer, and energy storage company serving North America. With a diversified portfolio that includes over 1,650 MW of operating renewable energy and energy storage technologies and a development pipeline with 2,000+ MW of solar, battery, and offshore wind projects, FirstLight specializes in hybrid solutions that pair hydroelectric, pumped-hydro storage, utility-scale solar, large-scale battery, and offshore wind assets. The company’s mission is to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by supporting the development, operation, and integration of renewable energy and storage to meet the world’s growing clean energy needs and deliver an electric system that is clean, reliable, affordable, and equitable. Based in Burlington, MA, with operating offices in Northfield, MA, New Milford, CT, and Oshawa, ON, FirstLight is a steward of more than 14,000 acres and hundreds of miles of shoreline along some of the most beautiful rivers and lakes in North America. FirstLight has been wholly owned by PSP Investments since 2016. To learn more, visit firstlightpdev.wpengine.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.
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