Fishing and boating at Lake Billy Chinook during the past few years, I have often glanced up at the steep, rugged canyon walls that line the reservoir and wondered if there was a way to reach the tops of those cliffs and explore the terrain. Turns out, a well-trodden path offers hikers an opportunity to do just that. The 7-mile Tam-a-láu Trail loop hike features a mile-long climb to the top of a lava plateau called the Peninsula, which separates the Deschutes River and Crooked River arms of Lake Billy Chinook. Hikers are treated to a bird’s-eye view of the reservoir and the dramatic cliffs and plateaus that line the water.

Getting there: From Bend, drive north on U.S. Highway 97 for 10 miles beyond Terrebonne. Turn left onto OR 361 and follow the signs to Cove Palisades State Park. Cross the Crooked River arm, drive between the Peninsula and the Island, then drive south for a short distance above the Deschutes River arm to the Upper Deschutes day-use area, where the trailhead is located. A state park pass or $5 daily parking fee is required.

— Mark Morical, The Bulletin