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Lake Information for Lake Billy Chinook
Lake Billy Chinook lies in canyons carved by the three rivers into earth held in place by basaltic caprock. Construction of the Round Butte Dam was completed in 1964 across the Deschutes River. Operated by Portland General Electric (PGE), and jointly owned by PGE and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the dam and lake primarily provide electric generation.[1] The Confederated Tribes named the lake in honor of Billy Chinook, a member of the Wasco tribe who acted as a guide for John C. Frémont in the region of the lake. The lake extends beyond the boundaries of The Cove Palisades State Park.
The park features myriad water recreational opportunities, a full-service campground, store, restaurant, marina and rental services. Not interested in camping? Deluxe lakeshore log cabins are available. Nature lovers will find nearly 10 miles of hiking trails that give access to areas rich in wildlife and splendid scenery.
The park is home to the popular Eagle Watch in February.
The park also offers:
• Boating facilities in three large day-use areas;
• A full-service marina;
• 10 miles of hiking trails leading to excellent wildlife
viewing and dramatic scenery;
• 265 campsites, including 174 RV sites;
• Three deluxe log cabins,
• Three group tent areas.
Lake Billy Chinook’s varied catch includes Kokanee (sockeye
salmon), small and largemouth bass, and many trout species.
The lake is especially well known for its bull trout fishery. Both
a tribal angling permit and a state of Oregon fishing license are
required to fish on the Metolius arm, which has a limited season.
You can buy tribal angling permits at The Cove Palisades
Marina or from local convenience stores. The Crooked River
and Deschutes arms of the lake are open year-round. Crawfishing
is also popular. An ADA accessible fishing platform is
located at the Crooked River Day-Use Area. Two floating
restrooms for boaters and anglers are anchored off the Kettle
Falls area near the Round Butte Dam and along the Deschutes
arm downstream of the Lower Deschutes Day-Use Area.
Off US 97, 15 miles SW of Madras
Businesses Located Nearby
Boat Rental
- Cove Palisades Marina
- 5700 Sw Marina Dr - Culver, OR
- (541) 546-3521
- Madras Marine
- 1810 Sw Highway 97 - Madras, OR
- (541) 550-2389
- Smith Rock Riverboats Incorporated
- 1097 Ne 11th St, #103 - Redmond, OR
- (541) 549-8423
Vacation Rental
- Cascade Vacation Rentals
- 581 N Larch St - Sisters, OR
- (541) 549-0792
- Bend Vacation Rentals
- 377 Sw Century Dr - Bend, OR
- (541) 385-9492
- Bend Dutch Vacation Rentals
- 61198 Sw Tall Timber Ct - Bend, OR
- (541) 322-0218
Bar and Restaurant
- Madras Pub & Deli
- 118 Sw 5th St - Madras, OR
- (541) 475-6044
- Hometown Grounds Coffee Company
- 646 Sw 5th St, #A - Madras, OR
- (541) 475-5395
- Desert Inn Bar & Grill
- 385 Jefferson Ave - Metolius, OR
- (541) 546-2872
