Gull Cove State

Gull Cove State offers a convenient launch point for paddlers and small boaters accessing the Sakonnet River and The Cove in Portsmouth. The facility features a single concrete boat ramp (note: currently in need of repair) along with additional launching spots along the cobble shoreline. An extensive gravel parking area accommodates vehicles, though there are no sanitary facilities on-site.

Be aware of the 25-foot vertical clearance fixed bridge at the mouth of the cove at high tide—larger sailboats cannot navigate in or out of The Cove. The generally shallow water depths throughout this area make it well-suited for kayakers and canoeists rather than sailboats. The Sakonnet River location provides access to scenic paddling while being near significant recreation areas including the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.

If you need additional ramp options in the area, the Sakonnet River Bridge boat ramp on Riverside Drive in Tiverton and Mount Hope boat ramp in Bristol are nearby alternatives.