The Cove

July 30th - August 7th, 2022

For over 30 years, people from Liberty Bible have been getting together each summer to go camping at "The Cove" for friendship, connection and fun!

Such a long history comes with a lot of "insider knowledge" and we wanted to try and pass on some of that knowledge to all the new campers who are joining us this year!

The Cove is not a typical "church campout". Rather, think of it as a group of people from the church all camping at the same place. While there will be a few all-group activities organized by the church (schedule below), much of what goes on at The Cove is just people getting to know others from their church, having fun and deepening relationships.

Contact us using the button below if you are thinking about joining us at The Cove this year!

The Cove 2022 Information Request

"Insider Knowledge" about The Cove

General Info

General Info

For 2022, The Cove is from July 30th-August 7th. Some people go for the whole week and some go for just part of the week. It's up to you! (site availability can be a factor, contact the church office if you are interested in attending and want to know what sites are available).
Meals are generally on your own so plan accordingly. There are a couple mini-marts not far from the campground and a few larger stores and restaurants nearby in Madras. Don't want to eat by yourself? Invite another family or individual to join you for a meal! Some families even plan this ahead of time, but again...it's up to you!
Boating is very popular at The Cove and many families with boats will spend all day out on the water. Please see the Boating Info tab for more information about boating at The Cove.
Every family boats a little differently. If you are invited to join another family on their boat, we encourage you to check with them regarding any rules they'd like you to follow while on board. Also, it is customary to offer gas money to the family that invited you (especially with gas prices being what they are!)
If boating isn't your thing...many people go for hikes or bike rides. Go golfing. Take day trips to Bend, Sunriver or Sisters. Hang out or swim down at the day use area. Even just hang around the campground playing games, reading, etc. These would be great activities to do with another individual or family...invite someone! If you are unfamiliar with the central Oregon area, you can visit THIS LINK for a list of local area attractions.
The Crooked River Campground is very flat and a great place for kids to ride bikes, roller skate and ride hoverboards or scooters. There are also several large, grassy areas that are great for outdoor games.
Nightlife at The Cove...Campfires, games, movies, car loads heading into town for ice cream, and anything else people can come up with! (depending on weather conditions, campfires sometimes get banned. Please check the Oregon State Parks website for up-to-date information)
Each Liberty campsite will be marked with a special yard sign (exact design TBD). These signs are to help you get connected with other Liberty folks...if you are out walking around the camp and see one of these signs, take that as an invitation to go say hello or introduce yourself to the people staying at that site!
Weather at The Cove can be a little wild. Over the years we've had mostly beautiful days. But we've also dealt with 100+ degree temperatures, rain storms, high winds and even forest fires. Generally speaking, temperatures tend to be in the 80's-90's during the day and cooling off quite a bit at night. Keep an eye on the weather in Culver, OR prior to the trip to make sure you're prepared.
Quiet time at The Cove is 10pm-8am so please keep noisy activities within that time frame.
Please remember that we, as a group, are representing the church. Please be kind to the park hosts and rangers & follow the rules.

Boating Info

Boating at The Cove

Boating is very popular at The Cove and many families with boats will spend all day out on the water. Some people choose to rent boats and The Cove Resort and The Cove Corner Store are two rental locations that people have used in the past. (these companies are not endorsed by Liberty Bible, they're just places that we're aware of). Boating families tend to come up from the water between 4-6pm.
If you plan to bring or rent a boat, please see the Lake Billy Chinook boaters guide, AVAILABLE HERE.
Every family boats a little differently. If you are invited on a boat by another family, we encourage you to check with them regarding any rules they'd like you to follow while on board. Also, it is customary to offer gas money to the family that invited you out (especially with gas prices being what they are!)
You may have heard about the "Party Boat". The Party Boat is a large house boat that is privately rented by a group of families from the church (not by the church itself). They invite anyone from our group to come by and hang out, use the slides or diving platform, even tie up your own boat if you have one. However, due to the cost and difficulty of moving the house boat, they do not provide transportation to and from the shore. So if you would like to visit the Party Boat, you will need to have a way of getting back and forth (either in your own boat, by getting a ride with a boating family or by paddling out in a kayak or canoe). The boat is typically parked not far from the boat launch and marina but the exact location is up to the rental families. If you decide to visit, please remember that the boat is privately rented and you should check with one of the rental families regarding any rules they may ask you to follow while on board.
In addition to regular motor boats...canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding and jet-skiing are very popular at The Cove.

Campground Info

Campground Info

The Cove Palisades State Park has two campgrounds. We will be camping at the Crooked River Campground (E Loop). You can visit the link to take you to the Oregon State Parks website for specific information about the campground or download the campground brochure HERE.
Access to the lake is down a long, steep road. Getting from the campground to the day use area and boat launch is generally done by car. The day use area has a large parking lot, boat launch, bathrooms, a swimming area and several picnic tables.
As long as you're staying at the campground, usage of the day use park is included in your campsite fee. If you are staying elsewhere or coming just for the day, there is a self-operated machine in the day use parking lot to pay the usage fee.
Vehicles at the campground...Camp policy is a maximum of 2 vehicles per site with an extra daily fee for the 2nd vehicle.
The Crooked River Campground is very flat and a great place for kids to ride bikes, roller skate and ride hoverboards or scooters. There are also several large, grassy areas that are great for outdoor games. There have been bike thefts in the past so please have a plan to secure your bikes at night or when you are away from the campsite (bring a bike lock!)
Campfires are controlled by the state park. Some years we can have campfires and other years they are banned. If fires are permitted, you can bring your own firewood or purchase it at the booth near the campground entrance.
Pets at The Cove : The campground has a fenced dog park area but you are required to stay with your dog. All dogs are required to be on a leash at all times. Dogs should not be left unattended at the campsite.
Quiet time at The Cove is 10pm-8am. We all enjoy ourselves in the evening, but we do need to do our best to plan the noisy activities before 10. The camp hosts & rangers do patrol the campground at night and will give you one warning.
Please remember that we, as a group, are representing the church. Please be kind to the park hosts and rangers & follow the rules.

Organized Activities

Organized Activities for 2022

This is our current list of organized activities. We're hoping to add to the list. Specific locations and times are currently TBD.

Sunday, 7/31, 6:30pm : Site E89/91 : Pulled Pork Dinner. Hosted by the Candee / Hansel families. Bring a side to share and your own drink, plate & utensils.
Monday, 8/1, 7:30pm : Site E22 : Watercolor paint night. Hosted by Mindy Chumbley. This is an informal gathering for anyone who would like to try watercolor painting. No experience needed! Paper & painting supplies will be provided. Bring yourself, a chair and possibly a folding table (only if it's easy, not necessary!)
Tuesday, 8/2, 7:00pm : Site E20/84 : Game Night!
Wed, 8/3, 7:00pm : Site E84/86 : Group Photo, Worship & Devotional
TBD : Volleyball & Human Battleship? : Watch for the volleyball net to go up during the week and come join! On Thursday, volleyball may turn into a giant sized version of human battleship for be ready! (you will be getting wet!)

Are you interested in hosting a group event at The Cove? Let us know!

Where we're going...

(The Cove Palisades State Park has 2 campgrounds. Make sure you go to the correct one!)