Cove Palisades State Park

Overview Driving through central Oregon, between Bend and Mount Hood, you would never guess there’s a gaping river canyon just a few miles west of the highway. Here, the Deschutes, Crooked, and Metolius rivers converge in a deep, sheer-walled gorge of volcanic basalt, where the Round Butte Dam impounds the river waters into Lake Billy Chinook. Visited as a recreation destination since the 1950s, the name of the park is derived from a geologic formation that has since been inundated by the 800–900-foot-deep lake. What started as a tiny, 8-acre parcel in 1946 has since been expanded into a 4,400-acre park that today offers several day use areas and campgrounds for relaxing and recreating on the lake and exploring some of the wonders of Oregon’s volcanic canyons and grassland plateaus. Camping Campers have two campgrounds to choose from at Cove Palisades. The Crooked River Campground, open February through December and located near the canyon’s east rim, offers 88 tent and RV campsites with electrical and water hookups; the Deschutes Campground, open May through September and located inside the canyon, offers 80 full-hookup RV sites, 90 tent sites, and 3 group sites. Some sites are ADA accessible. Both campgrounds feature water faucets, flush toilets, showers, and off-leash pet areas; a dump station is located near the upper campground. Seasonal nature and interpretive programs are held at outdoor amphitheaters at both locations. Dogs are welcome in the park, but must remain leashed. Campsites are $20–32/night; group sites are $75/night. Activities, Amenities, and Scenery The main attractions—and ideal for beating the summer heat—is boating and paddling in the Crooked and Deschutes river canyons, and the wide Lake Billy Chinook where they converge. The park provides boat launches on both rivers, and kayak launches, picnic and swimming areas, and fishing piers at three day-use areas. A cafe, store and fish cleaning station are located near the park’s marina. Kayak and boat rentals are also available here. For taking in a birds-eye view of the spectacular lake and river canyons, the 6-mile (round trip) Tam-a-Láu Trail climbs to the top of a grassy plateau dotted with wild juniper and volcanic boulders. From the rims of both river canyons, there are views of several unique geologic formations, as well as opportunities to watch for some of the area’s resident eagles.