Overview
Lake Billy Chinook is in Central Oregon, near Warm Springs and Madras.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–Oct. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 36°F. Wettest: Dec and Nov. (climate data from nearby Portland)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- RDM Roberts Field, Redmond — 25 mi away. Directions
- SLE Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field, Salem — 83 mi away. Directions
- PDX Portland International Airport, Portland — 92 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
At Lake Billy Chinook there is a restaurant, where people can purchases a wide variety of entrees.
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Understand
Lake Billy Chinook contains 72 mi of shoreline, and has a surface area of 4000 acres. The reservoir is surrounded by public land. While staying at the lake people can fish, camp and participate in water activities of all sorts.
History
Lake Billy Chinook was created in 1964 at the same time the Round Butte Dam was created by Portland General Electric. The lake was named after Billy Chinook, a member of the Wasco tribe who acted as a guide for John C. Frémont in the region of the lake.
Landscape
Near the area is the Cove Palisades National Park. The park is surrounded by cliff lines. The area offers excellent hiking trails, and beautiful landscape.
Climate
The temperature around the area is hot in the summer, and fairly cold in the winter.
Fees and permits
Day-use permits are required year round. Annual or two-year passes can be purchased at the Cove Palisades State Park in the summer time.
Do
Fishing is a popular activity at Lake Billy Chinook. The lake is filled with Kokanee and Large Mouth Bass. Water sports are also a major attraction. This makes boating of all kinds, water-skiing, and swimming very attractive to people who visit.
Buy
There is a local convenience store, and sporting good store near the park where people can shop for general goods. The small town of Culver, Oregon, also has a small country store and is located only about ten minutes away.
Eat
At Lake Billy Chinook there is a restaurant, where people can purchases a wide variety of entrees.
Sleep
Lodging
The park has log cabins for overnight stays.
Camping
The park has 272 campsites, of which 87 are full-hookup, and 94 are tent sites. Many of these sites also have electric and water hookups. If you are planning on camping with a group, there are multi-tent group sites available as well.
Nearby
Madras
City / town · 7 listings · 12 mi away
Warm Springs
City / town · 9 listings · 13 mi away
Smith Rock State Park
Park · 1 listings · 19 mi away
Sisters
City / town · 15 listings · 23 mi away
Redmond
City / town · 19 listings · 24 mi away
Prineville
City / town · 10 listings · 33 mi away
Bend
City / town · 60 listings · 37 mi away
Detroit Lake State Recreation Area
Park · 7 listings · 42 mi away
My experience
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