Lake Billy Chinook, Reservoir and National Natural Landmark in central Oregon, United States
Lake Billy Chinook is a large reservoir in central Oregon where the Crooked, Deschutes, and Metolius Rivers meet and form one body of water. The shoreline features deep canyons and volcanic cliffs that extend across the entire length of the lake.
The lake was formed in 1964 when the Round Butte Dam was built and was named after Billy Chinook, a Wasco tribe member who served as a guide for explorers in the 1840s. The dam's construction transformed the landscape into the water body that exists today.
The area was home to indigenous peoples whose rock carvings still appear on the canyon walls today. These artworks show how people understood and valued this landscape long before the reservoir existed.
Cove Palisades State Park provides multiple access points with boat launches and a marina offering watercraft rentals for exploring the lake. It is best to plan for enough time to visit the different coves and viewpoints around the shoreline.
A peninsula in the middle of the lake known as The Island remains strictly protected and showcases undisturbed juniper savanna vegetation. Visitors cannot enter this area, which helps preserve rare plants and wildlife found nowhere else in the region.
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