Shows
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon's state parks face closures and cuts. Here's the director's plan to avoid thatIn this episode, host Zach Urness interviews Oregon Parks and Recreation Department director Lisa Sumption about the challenging future for Oregon's state parks system.
The parks system includes more than 250 recreation sites and 50 campgrounds and was visited by a record 56.6 million people in 2024. However, OPRD is expecting to face a 14% shortfall by 2027. That could mean layoffs to rangers and even closing some parks.
In the podcast, Sumption explains the shortfall and plans to fix it by raising revenue through new and creative streams of income. It's her hope to fund the park system without asking for taxpayer funding or any...2025-07-2336 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesPopular railbiking trip finally comes within reach of the Willamette ValleyIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Mariah Johnston talk about the newest railbiking site in Oregon — this one within striking distance of the Willamette Valley.
Santiam Excursion Trains is based in Lebanon and recently added a new railbike adventure in Sweet Home. It travels 6 miles on the old Sweet Home Branch line, where abandoned buildings and wildlife are plentiful.
Mariah talks about the highlights of the trip, how to book a ride and the history of the rail line and railbiking in general, which has become increasingly popular across the state.2025-07-1920 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesCool off by 'wilderness snorkeling' rivers, creeks and lakes (repost)In this episode, host Zach Urness reposts a favorite podcast about snorkeling crystal clear rivers, creeks and backcountry lakes.
This episode, first recorded in 2019, covers the equipment needed and locations where you can explore underwater canyons and come nose-to-nose with a confused fish.2025-07-1523 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesNews roundup: New fees for fishing and boating, the fight for public lands and dark times for Oregon ski areasIn this episode, host Zach Urness and intern Mariah Johnston discuss the biggest news in Oregon's outdoors from the past few weeks.
Zach starts off by discussing the latest wildfire forecast, the fight against the sale of federal public lands and some of the biggest takeaways from the Oregon legislative session — including new fees for fishing and boating.
In the second half, Zach and Mariah discuss a more diverse collection of news stories, including troubling news for Oregon's grey whale population, E-bikes being allowed at Oregon State Parks, new parking rules for Suavie Island's beaches and a handful of other to...2025-07-1237 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThis lake with a stunning view of Mount Hood was once known as 'Mud Lake'In this episode, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Mariah Johnson detail how to hike, float and explore a lake with one of the most beautiful views of Mount Hood — but that in past was known as "Mud Lake."
Johnson visited Trillium Lake, near Government Camp, one of the more popular summer recreation sites, home to a place to rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, in addition to a nice hiking trail and campground.
Johnson also details why the lake was once known as "Mud Lake," and the fact that it was once in a movie starring Jimmy Stewart.2025-06-3022 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWant to catch 100 fish in a single day? Head to this magic river (update and repost)In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach Urness talks to fish biologist Stephan Charette about one of the best places to catch fish in Oregon: smallmouth bass on the John Day River.
In this episode, first published in 2022, Urness and Charette talks about why the fishing is so good, where and how to land them and the upside and downside of so many fish.2025-06-2342 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesHow to float the John Day River — and who was John Day exactly? (Updated repost)In this episode, host Zach Urness reposts and updates details on one of Oregon's greatest overnight float and fishing trips — the John Day River.
In this episode first published in 2020, but updated this year, Urness and former co-host David Davis break down the river's most famous segment, how to get a permit and what makes this trip so special.
They also dive into the history of the man the river is named for — John Day — and explain why his name is plastered all over Oregon.2025-06-2226 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesRafting through a 10,000-acre wildfire; plus how Cottonwood Canyon was saved from the Ferry FireIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the experience of floating through an active wildfire on the John Day River, in addition to a story about an evacuation of a state park and how it was saved from the flames of the Ferry Fire.
Earlier this month, Zach floated through the 10,000-acre Ferry Fire that was burning on the John Day. In the second half, Urness tells the story of Cottonwood Canyon State Park, also on the John Day, that was evacuated on June 11, had a firefight and was burned over on June 12, but thanks to smart planning by...2025-06-1920 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe art of trout fishing Oregon's hike-in mountain lakesIn this edition, host Zach Urness focuses on how to fish the state's hike-in alpine lakes with expert angler and fish biologist Jeff Ziller with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Ziller has worked on stocking and surveying Oregon's mountain lakes since the 1980s. In the first half of the podcast, he talks about where to find fish in Oregon's mountain lakes, what type of fish can be had and how they got there in the first place.
In the second half, Ziller breaks down the best methods to catch rainbow and brook trout, how to clean and eat...2025-06-0658 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSilver Falls upgrades, and the 'almost' Oregon national parksIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about upgrades coming to Silver Falls State Park along with places in Oregon that almost became national parks — but never quite made the cut.
In the first half, Urness talks about the new outdoors shop, campground and visitor center planned for Oregon's largest state park as part of expanding development at the park.
In the second half, Urness talks about why Silver Falls didn't become a national park — even through it was strongly considered back in the 1920s. Then, he talks about five other locations that almost became national parks but were held back...2025-05-1432 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesEugene to add mountain bike trails, expand Ridgeline Trail system for riders and hikersIn this episode, host Zach Urness reports on a project in Eugene that will add a mountain biking park and expand the size of the city's Ridgeline Trail system for hiking.
The city plans to add 12 miles of new trail at Suzanne Arlie Park and South Eugene Meadows, opening up the city's first trails built specifically for mountain biking while also creating new hikes and expanding hiking routes.
It's been a long road for the city to embrace mountain biking. The project also moves the city closer to its ultimate goal of having trails that connect from Fern Ridge Reservoir...2025-05-0819 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopensIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the reopening of the Whitewater Creek road and trail into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness east of Detroit.
The trail has long been one of the most popular in the Mount Jefferson area but it's been transformed by two major wildfires that have kept it closed since 2020.
The road and trail is finally open now, and there are some amazing views and adventures to be had right now — in the early season — and later in the summer as well.2025-05-0124 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens, offering spring and summer adventureIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the reopening of the Whitewater Creek road and trail into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness east of Detroit.
The trail has long been one of the most popular and iconic in the Mount Jefferson area but it's been transformed by two major wildfires that have kept it closed six of the last nine years and all the way since 2020.
The road and trail is finally open now, and there are some amazing views and adventures to be had right now — in the early season — and later in the summer as well. Zach breaks down...2025-04-3024 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon's wildest place: The Kalmiopsis Wilderness and why it's stunning in spring (repost)In this edition, host Zach Urness takes a deep dive into perhaps the wildest place in Oregon — the Kalmiopsis Wilderness.
This episode, originally published in 2022, focuses on the 180,000-acre wilderness in southwest Oregon. It's home to deep river canyons, wildflowers found nowhere else on earth and rivers so clear they seem made of liquid glass.
Zach is joined by Gabe Howe, executive director of the Siskiyou Mountain Club, to pick their 10 favorite hikes and backpacking routes in the Kalmiopsis, including the Illinois River Trail, Vulcan Lake and the pristine Upper Chetco River.
The Siskiyou Mountain Club and other trails groups in...2025-04-251h 14
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesNewsletter pod: Last call at Crater Lake, Oregon smashes parks visits record, ski season reviewIn this episode host Zach Urness covers a range of outdoors news topics, including:
-Why this is the last summer to swim, fish or take a boat tour at Crater Lake National Park until 2029.
-Why this was a very good, but also tragic, ski season in Oregon
-Why Oregon set a record for visits to its state parks system
-Also: Detroit Lake drawdown, Oregon is drought free, state of the wilderness permit season and the status of endangered wolves and snowy plovers.2025-04-1936 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesRepost: A guide to Oregon's best wildflower hikes (and a few in Washington)Repost! In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about Oregon's wildflower hotspots and the best times to see them with expert Greg Lief.
Lief, who runs the website OregonWildflowers.org talks about some of Oregon's most interesting blooms and the best times to visit places such as the Columbia Gorge, Old Cascades, Coast Range and Eastern Oregon to find the best of nature's fireworks display.
This episode was originally posted on April 18, 2024, but all the information should be about the same as last year in terms of wildflower blooms times.2025-04-1647 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesTrailkeepers of Oregon work to save trails amid federal cuts to funding, public landsHost Zach Urness talks with Trailkeepers of Oregon executive director Steve Kruger about the group's mission and how federal cuts and a funding freeze could make it difficult to maintain hiking trails on public lands this summer and in future years.
Kruger talks about the work TKO does in using volunteers to clear, fix and maintain trails, in addition to building bridges. He then talks about how a federal cuts and a funding freeze — in which agreed to grants and payments aren't being distributed — appears likely to hamper maintaining trails in the foreseeable future.2025-04-0938 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSalem ice climber ascends frozen waterfalls, glaciers. Here's how you can too.In this episode, host Zach Urness interviews Salem ice climber Forrest "Frosty" Gill about the fun and challenge of ascending frozen waterfalls and ice flows across Oregon and the West.
Gill talks about the equipment and technique used for ice climbing, the beautiful places it can take you and his journey in learning the sport through the Salem-based Chemeketans outdoors club and climb school. This past February, Gill climbed frozen Paulina Creek Falls in Central Oregon but has also climbed in Alaska, Montana and Colorado.2025-03-2735 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWhat do the federal cuts mean for Oregon's public lands? Plus, Detroit Lake mini cabinsWhat do the federal cuts mean for Oregon's public lands? Plus, Detroit Lake mini cabins by Zach Urness / Statesman Journal2025-03-1029 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon's Boat: How the McKenzie River Drift Boat became world famousIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with Randy Dersham, director of the new documentary film "Oregon's Boat."
Dersham describes the evolution of one of the world's most famous boats — the McKenzie River Drift Boat — that took place in Eugene and on the McKenzie River.
The boat evolved under a series of colorful fishing guides, woodworkers and adventurers to become the ideal boat for navigating whitewater rivers across the West.
The film recently recently won the award for Best Feature at the Oregon Documentary Film Festival.2025-02-1956 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesUnderground aquifer in Oregon's Central Cascade Mountains holds trillions of gallons of water. What it means for the stateIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with two Oregon researchers that just published a study about a massive underground aquifer below the Central Cascade Mountains east of Salem and Eugene.
Leif Karlstrom, a University of Oregon earth scientist, and Gordon Grant, a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service, discuss an aquifer they estimate as containing 81 cubic kilometers of freshwater — or roughly as much water contained in three Lake Meads, the largest reservoir in the United States.
Karlstrom and Grant talk about how the aquifer is formed, where it's located (roughly between Mount Jefferson and south of McKenzie Pass) an...2025-01-2945 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSnowshoeing beautiful Maxwell Sno Park, Detroit Lake emptied, McKenzie Pass confusionIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about three different things:
-Snowshoeing, skiing or micro-spike hiking at Maxwell Sno-Park, plus spending the night in its two cozy snow shelters.
-The plan to drop Detroit Lake to its lowest level in history, in a controversial plan aimed at saving endangered spring chinook salmon but that could also impact fishing, access and water quality at the reservoir east of Salem.
-The controversy surrounding offseason recreation on McKenzie Pass Highway 242. Are you allowed to ski, snowmobile and bike on the scenic highway between Sisters and McKenzie Bridge when...2025-01-2332 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesPart II: Best outdoor adventures of 2024In this edition, host Zach Urness highlights the best adventures the Statesman Journal outdoors staff wrote about in 2024.
In part II, Urness talks about a roadtrip to the Oregon Outback — plus its "dark sky sanctuary" — along with why Oakridge is considered among the United States' best places to mountain bike.
He also talks about diving into an underwater forest of Clear Lake, float tube fishing Oregon's alpine lakes, backpacking Broken Top Loop and new sections of whitewater that have appeared on the Klamath River after dam removal.2025-01-0227 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesPart I: Best outdoor adventures of 2024In this episode, host Zach Urness highlights the best adventures the Statesman Journal outdoors staff wrote about in 2024.
In this part I episode, Urness talks about the troubled but beloved Umpqua Hot Springs during its "quiet season" and exploring snow shelters in the winter backcountry near Gold Lake Sno Park. Other adventures highlighted include summer skiing on Mount Hood — even during an extreme heatwave — along with mountain biking a historic road and how to visit one of Oregon's most beautiful but semi-secret waterfalls.
Part II of this countdown should be posted around the New Year.2024-12-2634 minExplore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesNewsletter pod: Willamette salmon fight, Silver Falls hiking, record coho, 'yurtmas'In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about a collection of stories including the start of winter recreation season, the controversial drawdowns at Green Peter Reservoir and some fun winter adventures including skiing, hiking at Silver Falls and celebrating "yurtmas" by touring Christmas lights at the Coast.
The podcast features interviews from KLCC in Eugene and considers why a plan to save endangered salmon has become so controversial, while other topics include new waterfall hiking loops at Silver Falls State Park, record setting coho salmon runs and one of the state's most epic Christmas lights displays.2024-12-0527 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesPortland's best hike? Trek to Pittock Mansion showcases Forest Park, Witch's Castle, Cascade viewsIn this episode, host Zach Urness and intern Alexander Banks talk about the iconic — and popular — hike to Pittock Mansion. Beginning in the heart of Portland, the route takes hikers through Forest Park landmarks and up to one of the most beautiful vistas in the Rose City.
For additional prospective, Banks also talks with guidebook author Matt Reeder about what makes the hike special. Finally, Zach offers a few of Portland's other best hikes.2024-12-0222 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe remarkable rebirth of southern Oregon's Bolan Mountain LookoutIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with three people who worked to rebuild a stunning mountaintop fire lookout in southern Oregon where visitors can spend the night.
In 2020, Bolan Mountain Lookout was burned by the Slater Fire. Four years later, a district ranger and the leader of a nonprofit, along with his dad, spearheaded rebuilding a lookout with one of the state's most unique vistas.
In the podcast, Scott Blower, Wild Rivers District Ranger of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, along Gabe and Lee Howe, of the Siskiyou Mountain Club, talk about the challenge and inspiration of rebuilding an...2024-11-2546 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe 'New Klamath River,' after dam removal, showcases salmon, new rapids and stunning sceneryIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with a Klamath River outfitter about how the largest dam removal project in United State history has transformed the river by returning salmon and opening new stretches of river hidden for over a century.
Will Volpert, owner of southern Oregon's Indigo Creek Outfitters, has been rafting every stretch of what he's dubbed the "New Klamath" after dam removal to document, map and prepare for commercial trips and summer recreation on a stream that looks a lot different after four dams and reservoirs were removed near the Oregon and California state line.
Volpert talks...2024-11-0557 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSnow or no? What's the forecast for Oregon's winter weather?In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with Oregon State Climatologist Larry O'Neill about the forecast for the winter of 2024-25.
O'Neill details why a forecasted weak La Nina system could result in a cooler and wetter winter than normal and what that means for the state overall, including for skiing and winter recreation.2024-10-2120 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBackpacking Broken Top Loop and 'float tube fishing' Oregon's backcountry lakesIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Elliott Deins talk about backpacking the Three Sisters Wilderness and "float tube fishing" in Oregon's backcountry lakes.
Deins breaks down one of Oregon's most beautiful and challenging backpacking routes, the Broken Top Loop, including how many miles it takes, where you can camp and the major highlights — and there are many.
Urness talks about hiking into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness carrying a "float tube" — basically an inflatable chair — that allows for far superior fishing at alpine lakes. Urness explains the upsides and downsides and some of the be...2024-10-1421 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesCoho salmon numbers are breaking records in the Willamette. Why and how can you catch them?In this episode, host Zach Urness goes deep on the record coho salmon runs in the Upper Willamette Basin.
Urness talks with Chris Kern, the west region manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, about what makes coho unique, why their numbers have been skyrocketing and how anglers can catch them.2024-10-1039 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon salmon runs break records, as iconic fish reach territory blocked for a centuryIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about three different major stories involving salmon in Oregon. And, he posts a really fun song about salmon sent to him by a reader.
Stories:
-A record-breaking run of coho salmon in the Upper Willamette Basin
-Salmon reaching spawning grounds on the Klamath River for the first time in over a century
-The tough situation at Green Peter Reservoir, where one type of salmon (kokanee) has been sacrificed for the hoped rebuilding of another (spring chinook).
Finally, Urness ends by posting a catchy song about salmon.2024-10-0921 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesIt's golden chanterelle season! How to find and pick Oregon's tasty state mushroomIn this episode, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Skyla Patton get excited about the peak season for finding Oregon's delicious and beautiful state mushroom.
In an interview first recorded in 2022, Patton breaks down everything about the Pacific Golden Chanterelle, including where and when to find it, how to eat it, how to get permits to harvest them and trickier questions including whether you can over-harvest the beloved mushroom.
The two discuss everything from the science of why chanterelles grow across western Oregon, best recipes and what the evidence suggests about cutting them or pulling them from the ground.2024-09-2337 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe madcap history of Samuel H. Boardman and the rise of Oregon's state parks systemIn this episode, host Zach Urness updates some of the latest news about Oregon's state parks system, including major fee increases to camp and visit, before launching a deep dive into how the park system came together over 100 years.
Urness talks with associate parks director Chris Havel and historian Christy Sweet about the park system's long, winding and goofball history. It makes for a fun listen for anyone on a Labor Day Weekend road trip in Oregon's outdoors.
The story centers on the colorful and bombastic Sam Boardman, known as the "father of Oregon's state parks system," who built the...2024-08-301h 09
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon's 25 best mountain biking trails and trail systemsIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoor intern Emma Logan about the best mountain bike destinations across Oregon.
The two break down the best spots to ride near Mount Hood, on the Oregon Coast and in central, southwest and eastern Oregon. The destinations range from smaller trail systems new to the scene to internationally recognized trails in Oakridge.
Urness and Logan discuss their favorite trails, what make those areas unique and how mountain bike trails have changed over the years.2024-08-1746 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThis small Oregon town is known worldwide for 'gold level' mountain bikingIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoor intern Emma Logan about mountain biking in Oakridge. This small town has put itself on the map with a world class trail network.
With over 300 miles of trails, Oakridge is one of the six gold-level ride centers in the world and has been dubbed "Mountain Biking Capital of the Northwest."
This episode includes an interview with Marcello Ojerio, a bike mechanic and longtime local rider who works at the Oakridge Bike Shop. Ojerio talks about what makes Oakridge trails special, how to pick the right ride and how to handle wildfires and...2024-08-0533 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWillamette Water Trail: Idyllic floats and campsites on this underrated riverIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness returns to one of the state's great backyard gems — the Willamette Water Trail.
Urness highlights his two favorite places to float and camp on the mainstem Willamette, that features surprisingly beautiful scenery, wildlife habitat and camps just a stone's throw from cities such as Eugene, Corvallis and Salem.
Then, Urness plays an interview from 2021 with former Willamette Riverkeeper executive director Travis Williams — now with Willamette River Preservation Trust — about the best floats, history and things to know about being on the Willamette.2024-07-2749 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon wildfire update and the future of Opal CreekIn this episode, host Zach Urness gives an update on the fast-developing wildfire season in Oregon and then posts and interview that dives into how beloved places such as the Opal Creek area reopen post wildfire.
First, Urness breaks down some of the fires burning across the state after a major lightning storm ignited a number of new blazes near Oakridge, Diamond Lake, the McKenzie Corridor and all other corners of the state.
Then, Urness posts an interview that he did with Portland City Cast on how the Opal Creek area is doing now, four years after the 2020 Labor Day...2024-07-1832 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSummer skiing on Mount Hood, even during an extreme heatwaveIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoor intern Emma Logan about summer skiing at Timberline Lodge and Ski Area on Mount Hood.
Timberline offers the only place to ski in the middle of the summer in North America. From the top of the Palmer snowfield, skiers stand at over 8,000 feet and are immediately transported back into a winter state of mind.
This episode includes an interview with John Burton, the Director of Marketing and Public Affairs of Timberline. Logan and Burton discuss the history of summer skiing on Mount Hood, the elite level training and what anyone should...2024-07-0927 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOutdoor photography, long-distance hikes and the Columbia Gorge's Chinook TrailHost Zach Urness talks with long-distance hiker, photographer and gear-maker James Parsons about a variety of topics, including the little-known Chinook Trail in the Columbia River Gorge.
Parsons, probably best known for his photography through his Extreme Oregon Instagram page, talks about the strange place outdoor photography finds itself in 2024, his favorite long-distance hikes and his new business, Magnet Designs, making and selling outdoor clothing.
Then, he spotlights a little-known long-distance route through the Columbia Gorge known as the Chinook Trail, and which parts make for excellent backpacking and which parts offer a fairly brutal experience.2024-07-0658 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon wildfire forecast and preview for summer 2024In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the wildfire forecast for the summer of 2024 and the fires burning right now.
Urness lays out what type of wildfire season is expected using interviews with fire weather meteorologists, who explain how drought, fuel moisture and El Nino to La Nina weather patterns could impact wildfires across the state this summer.
Urness breaks down the hot spots for fire danger, and where active wildfires have already had an impact on summer 2024 in the state.2024-06-2826 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesElkhorn Mountains & Anthony Lakes a summertime jewel in Eastern OregonIn this episode, Zach talks about the Elkhorn Mountains and Anthony Lakes area of Eastern Oregon.
Urness breaks down the what makes the Elkhorns such a striking range, the best time to visit, where to stay and what to do when visiting. There's no shortage of hikes, alpine lakes, fishing, backpacking and wildlife to enjoy — along with an Old West ghost town with a haunted suction dredge (that you are allowed to visit).2024-06-1924 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues'Ride through history.' Santiam Wagon Road offers beauty, adventure and historic landmarksIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about one of Oregon's most beautiful and historic trails that is often overlooked.
The Santiam Wagon Road was once the primary route connecting the Willamette Valley to Central Oregon in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, the roadway has been transformed into a beautiful trail best explored on 18 miles and six segments in the Tombstone Pass area east of Sweet Home.
Sweet Home district ranger Nikki Swanson joints the podcast to break down the route's history and the best way to experience it nowadays.2024-06-1542 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesShellburg Falls reopens after four years, but Valley of the Giants closed long-termIn this episode, host Zach Urness reports on two beloved places — one that is reopening after a major wildfire and another that just closed because of a huge landslide.
Shellburg Falls Recreation Area reopened this past weekend, and Urness talks about how the experience of visiting the 100-foot waterfall and surrounding trails has changed — in some cases dramatically.
Then, Urness reports on how a debris flow has closed access to Valley of the Giants, home to some of Oregons largest and oldest trees in the Coast Range located west of Salem.2024-05-2427 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon Outback: Hot springs, hikes, dark skies and thick steaksIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks about the Oregon Outback and Summer Lake area, a land of desert canyons, hot springs, hikes and quite possibly Oregon's best restaurant.
The region was recently established as a dark sky sanctuary, but Urness looks at all the daytime adventures, along with the best time to visit and places to stay.
He talks about Crack in the Ground, Cowboy Tree Diner and Summer Lake, among many other places to fish, bird-watch, hunt, hike and explore.2024-05-2032 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesEugene woman talks about shattering speed record on Oregon Pacific Crest TrailIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks to ultra runner Emily Halnon of Eugene, who back in 2020 set the speed record for the Oregon segment of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Halnon ran the Oregon PCT's 460 miles in 7 days, 19 hours and 23 minutes — an average of 57 miles per day. She set the record for both male and female runners.
In the podcast — and in a recently published book — Halnon talked about doing the run to honor her mother, who died of a rare form of bone cancer.
Halnon's recently published a book about her experience called "To the Gorge: Running, Grief, and Resilie...2024-05-0651 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesFern hunt! How to harvest plants from Oregon's national forests for your backyard with a free permitIn this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about a program that allows harvesting plants from national and state forests and replanting them your own backyard.
With the program, you can transplant ferns, saplings and even wildflowers into your own yard for free. It's called the "forest products free use permit" and we'll tell you how you can use it to go on your own plant hunt.2024-04-2922 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSteelhead rebound: Once at risk of extinction, Oregon's iconic fish has biggest year in two decadesIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about the rebound of one of Oregon's most iconic fish from near extinction.
Urness was interviewed by Think Out Loud host Dave Miller on Oregon Public Broadcasting about why this year's run of winter steelhead in the Upper Willamette Basin was so special. After their population nearly crashing in 2017, the sea-run trout returned their best numbers in two decades this year.
The interview was based on a story Urness wrote on the subject titled: "Once in 'extinction vortex,' Willamette winter steelhead post best returns since 2004."2024-04-1717 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon Desert Trail features canyons, dark sky, hot springs, solitudeIn this episode, host Zach Urness revisits the Oregon Desert Trail, a challenging but beautiful route designed to open the eyes of hikers to the wonders of the high desert.
Urness talks about why spring is a time to consider hiking or planning a short or long-distance trek along the 750-mile route that travels from just outside of Bend all the way to Lake Owyhee State Park.
Urness get expertise from Renee Patrick, trail coordinator for the Oregon Natural Desert Association about everything hikers need to know about undertaking the route, and just what makes it special.2024-03-2730 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe world's largest 'dark sky sanctuary' is established in SE OregonIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about the recently established Oregon Outback International Dark Sky Sanctuary — the largest such sanctuary in the world.
The 2.5 million acre sanctuary, located east of Lakeview near towns such as Plush and Adel in southeast Oregon, becomes the largest dark sky sanctuary in the world.
Urness is joined by Bob Hackett, executive director of Travel Southern Oregon, to talk about what a dark sky sanctuary actually is, how it was established and how people can best experience it. They also talk about how dark skies are measured, and how they...2024-03-2243 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSpring snow! Rustic lodge, hidden shelters and hot spring on Willamette PassIn this episode, host Zach Urness takes listeners to the snowy wonderland of Willamette Pass, a great place to visit during the spring snow season.
Even as the days get warmer and longer, there is still lots of snow on Oregon's mountain passes, which makes for a fun recreation season for skiing, snowshoeing and other activities.
Urness highlights a rustic lodge to spend the night, wooden shelters hidden in backcountry snow and even hot springs to enjoy about an hour southeast of Eugene.2024-03-1824 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWith big snow coming, visit these stunning ice-covered waterfallsIn this episode, Zach reposts an episode about visiting Oregon waterfalls covered in snow and ice.
With heavy snow forecasted in the lower elevations of the Cascade Mountains this coming week, Zach decided to post a podcast he originally recorded four years ago that details the best places to ski or snowshoe to Oregon’s best waterfalls covered in snow.
The waterfalls are at their best following a nice fresh low-elevation snow, which makes this coming week a fun moment to go winter waterfall hunting.2024-02-2429 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSki or snowshoe to ice-covered waterfall, hot springs, lake, at Newberry Volcanic MonumentIn this episode, Zach Urness talks about a ski or snowshoeing trip to ice-covered Paulina Creek Falls in Newberry National Volcanic Monument in Central Oregon.
Urness details what makes the trip unique, including a snowy waterfall, alpine lake, high peak, hot springs and even a backcountry restaurant. He talks about when and how to do the trip, how difficult it is, and additional options like snowmobiling.2024-02-1520 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe rise of Oregon search and rescue, from pioneer daring to the modern eraIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with author Glenn Voelz about the rise of Oregon's search and rescue, from the pioneer age to the modern era.
Voelz is author of the book "Oregon Search & Rescue: Answering the Call," which covers the state's best-known searchers, high-profile disasters and how both shaped modern SAR.
The book and podcast cover famous disasters on Mount Hood, how groups like the Mazama's began Oregon's SAR tradition and even the state's biggest political crisis.2024-02-121h 02
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWhy does NW Oregon get such bad freezing rain events?In this episode, host Zach Urness talks to National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Burling about the most recent freezing rain event in the Willamette Valley.
They discuss why the Willamette Valley and northwest Oregon is uniquely suited for impactful freezing rain events and ice build up, and what happens in the sky to create freezing rain.
Zach also talks about some of the major impacts in Eugene, Springfield and Portland from the ice storm of 2024.2024-01-2623 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWinter recreation season is here! Plus the glory and pain of Umpqua Hot SpringsIn this episode, Zach Urness breaks down the incoming blizzard and beginning of winter recreation season, along with a feature on the glory and trouble of Umpqua Hot Springs.
In the first half, Zach talks about the incoming snow, what impact it will have on winter recreation in Oregon and some suggestions for snowy places to travel.
In the second half, Zach talks about a feature he just wrote on the glorious but troubled Umpqua Hot Springs in southern Oregon. Zach talks about how to get to the hot springs in winter — when the hot springs are quieter — and about the...2024-01-0825 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBest outdoor adventures of 2023In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness is joined by Hike Oregon's Franziska Weinheimer to pick their favorite destinations from the past year 2023.
Urness and Weinheimer feature rafting trips, backpacking routes and snowy adventures with epic views in a podcast meant to help others plan their trips for the coming year.2023-12-311h 05
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBiggest outdoors news and environment stories of 2023In this edition, host Zach Urness breaks down the 10 biggest news stories in Oregon's outdoors and environment from 2023.
Urness details some good news, such as the continued population growth of the western snowy plover from the brink of extinction, and some bad news, such as the closing of Salem Summit Company, with lots of news and analysis in between.2023-12-2730 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBest combination outdoor adventures and brewpubs-restaurants across OregonIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with guidebook author Matt Wastradowski about their favorite places for a combination outdoor adventure and meal or drink.
They travel to every corner of the state, talking about some of the state's best brewpubs, cowboy diners and seafood stops that also happen to be near big mountains, wild rivers and excellent hikes.2023-12-1452 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSnow and ski area openings, water crisis, now-hidden gem of the Oregon CoastIn this edition, Zach talks about the massive winter storm arriving in Oregon's mountains — and ski areas that have announced openings — along with the drinking water crisis in Sweet Home and Lebanon, new permits for Mount Hood and a variety of other news stories.
Urness touches on how to explore the landslide-closed road on Cascade Head and visit beautiful Harts Cove Trail, along with looking at Oregon's proposed drone rules and why Butte Creek Falls has been closed for three years.2023-11-3033 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesHikes and science abound at NE Oregon's Zumwalt Prairie PreserveIn this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoors intern Olivia Stevens about her experience exploring the Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in northeast Oregon.
While the Zumwalt may not be the main draw for visitors to the Enterprise and Joseph area, its managers make a compelling case for taking the a remote drive there. Visitors to the prairie can hike four beautiful trails for views of native grassland and nearby canyons.
Stevens spoke with The Nature Conservancy, the environmental nonprofit that owns the 51-acre preserve, and visits with Oregon State University students about the importance and difficulty of preserving the prairie...2023-11-1521 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWill this Oregon winter be snowy, rainy or dry? El Nino to have major impactIn this episode, host Zach Urness forecasts the upcoming winter with state climatologist Larry O'Neill.
The two discuss whether this winter will be rainy, snowy, dry or warm, and looked at how the El Nino weather pattern would likely impact the next few months. Specifically, the two talked about how the strength of this year's El Nino could determine whether Oregon has a wet or dry winter.2023-11-0822 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesA conversation with Oregon's godfather of sandboarding, Lon BealeIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with the godfather of sandboarding in Oregon and across the world — Lon Beale.
They talk about how to get started sandboarding on the Oregon Coast and its dunes, why it's so much fun and how the sport started. Beale talks about some of the best places to ride, how the sport has advanced and how he designed the world's first modern sandboards.
Beale is the owner of Venomous Sandboards and the Sand Master Sandboarding Park & Store in Florence.2023-10-3036 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWhy hasn't Oregon released investigation reports of the 2020 Labor Day Fires yet?In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about why fire investigation reports from the devastating 2020 Labor Day Fires still have not been finished or released by Oregon officials.
Zach was interviewed about his in-depth reporting on the subject by Dave Miller, host of Think Out Loud on Oregon Public Broadcasting. They talk about where the investigations stand after three years, why it's taking so long, what we know and how California does thing differently.2023-10-1819 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues2023 wildfire season in review: Acres burned, homes lost, lessons learnedIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness breaks down Oregon's 2023 wildfire season and puts it in prospective compared to recent years.
Zach details the acres burned, homes lost and air quality impact around Oregon, along with the biggest fires of the year and big takeaways from the season.
Then he talks with Alex Robertson, a longtime firefighter and regional fire director for the U.S. Forest Service, about what firefighters saw in 2023.2023-10-1630 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesGuide to northeast Oregon's Wallowa MountainsIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Olivia Stevens talk about some of the best things to do in the Wallowa Mountains.
Olivia highlights overlooked campsites, cultural sites and museums and some new hikes in northeast Oregon's Joseph-Enterprise-Wallowa Lake area. Then, Zach posts a full episode that breaks down everything to know about the area with an episode originally recorded in 2018.2023-10-1147 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesClear bottom kayaking at Wallowa Lake becomes a viral sensationIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Olivia Stevens walks listeners through a unique experience on Wallowa Lake in the remote northeastern town of Joseph.
A small, family-run company out there recently became a viral sensation after a social media influencer posted a video paddling through the glacial lake at night in light-up, clear boats.
Olivia took the nighttime clear bottom kayak tour herself, and talks about whether the experience lived up to the hype driven by all the online attention. She also talked to the family that owns the company JO Paddle...2023-10-0623 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesReturn to Waldo Lake for boat campingIn this episode, Zach breaks down how to boat camp at Waldo Lake in a year when many campgrounds and roads are still closed due to last year's Cedar Creek Fire.
While two of the campgrounds at Waldo are closed, you are allowed to load up a canoe or kayak with camping equipment and head to "dispersed" campsites that dot the lake's shoreline.
Zach explains what's legal and open this year, before adding a podcast that looks at where to find the lake's best campsites, what to expect and how to plan a trip.2023-09-1328 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesAbandoned but unforgettable, Bohemia Mountain's mines, hikes, campsites and festivalIn this edition, host Zach Urness and intern Abigail Landwehr talk about a visit to Bohemia Mountain and a festival honoring its rich past.
Southeast of Cottage Grove, the name of the mountain is probably best known for the town-wide annual celebration. Every summer, Bohemia Mining Days attracts a number of people from across the state and further.
But the surrounding area offers more than just the festival — visitors can also explore trails, campgrounds and the captivating mining history of the peak. Pieces of the mining district’s past also sit in between the pines, including a ghost town abandoned thre...2023-08-1722 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBest backpacking routes of the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, the impact of its seven major wildfiresIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach updates the status of the Mount Jefferson Wilderness this summer and breaks down a glorious three-day backpacking loop about a glorious three-day backpacking loop.
Then, he plays an older episode that highlights all the best places to hike and backpack in the Jefferson Wilderness while detailing the seven major wildfires that have marked the area and their lasting impact.
Zach is joined by guidebook author Matt Reeder, who has written multiple books about the Jefferson, for a truly comprehensive breakdown on one of the most beautiful areas in the state.2023-08-101h 07
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesA 'fish taxi' and a billion-dollar plan to save endangered salmon in the Willamette BasinIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach looks at a billion-dollar plan that involves using "fish taxis" and "fish Disney Worlds" to save endangered spring chinook in the Upper Willamette Basin.
The plan centers on moving salmon around dams with massive trucks, and allowing the fish to spawn in the upper river that in the past was blocked by dams. The hope is that is to rebuild wild salmon numbers that have fallen to around 4,000 to 7,000 fish per year, down from 300,000 historically.
The podcast is based on Zach's in-depth reporting on a massive, multi-billion dollar plan proposed by...2023-07-2619 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesJuly News Part 1: Why Oregon wildfire season looks increasingly direIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks with City Cast Portland about the upcoming wildfire season and why fire danger has suddenly skyrocketed to high levels after a wet and snowy winter.
Zach also breaks down some of his favorite places to hike in wildfire scars, tells the tale of how Don Myron escaped the Labor Day Fires by sheltering in the middle of a river and offers some tips on not igniting wildfires of you own.
Finally, Zach talks about the Boulder Fire burning near Mount Hood and why there's a good chance it could hang...2023-07-1230 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWhy is God's Thumb, a stunning Oregon Coast hike, so controversial?In this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and intern Abigail Landwehr talk about one of the most beautiful but troubled spots on the Oregon Coast — God's Thumb, also known as The Thumb.
The basalt peak that juts above the ocean north of Lincoln City has become an extremely popular destination but the hike to its top is unofficial, crossing over private land and bringing a host of problems for locals.
Urness and Landwehr talk about the problems and look at why a plan to improve the area hasn’t happened. They talk to the Lincoln City mayo...2023-07-0623 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues10 stunning backpacking trips of the Klamath-Siskiyou MountainsIn this edition, Zach talks with southern Oregon expert Ryan Ghelfi about backpacking in the wild and beautiful Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains of southwest Oregon and extreme northwest California.
It’s an ideal year to backpack in the area due to wildfire danger that’s lower than it has been in many years, following California’s historic snowpack that has tamped down fire concerns — at least for the moment.
Zach and Ryan talk about wild and remote places right on the Oregon-California border such as the Red Buttes, Siskiyou and Kalmiopsis Wilderness areas, then drop into the even more spectacular Trinity Alps and Marb...2023-06-2639 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSaddle Mountain is a stunning hike — an island in the sky. Why has it been closed so long?In this episode, Zach and Charlie talk about the curious case of Saddle Mountain State Natural Area — one of the state's most beautiful peaks and hikes that has been closed frequently the past three years.
The episode includes an interview with park ranger Eric Crum, who explains the difficulty in reopening the park's trail and the reasons for the ongoing closure. They look at when the park and trail will reopen and what will be different about it.
Charlie and Zach also talk about the rare and endangered plants on Saddle Mountain, how the peak was once a prehistoric island an...2023-06-0233 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesCatch Oregon's delicious 'mini salmon' in lakes and reservoirsIn this episode, Zach and journalism intern Charlie Gearing focus on the glory of Oregon's kokanee salmon.
The landlocked sockeye salmon have become increasingly popular for anglers for a number of reasons — mainly that they're delicious and easier to catch.
Zach and Charlie talk with two expert kokanee anglers about the fish's backstory — how these salmon became landlocked — and how to best catch them in places like Green Peter Reservoir and Detroit Lake.
They also get into what the fish eat, how they naturally spawn — and turn bright red in the process — and how best to eat them.2023-05-2329 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesUpdates on the Labor Day Fires: Mega trial begins, burned forest access, best hikes in fires scarsIn this episode, Zach talks about the latest developments in Oregon's Labor Day Fires. He details a mega trial that began this week that pits victims of the fires against Pacificorp — the utility whose power lines are blamed for igniting some of the fires and bringing widespread destruction.
Zach also updates access to areas burned areas in the fires — including the Opal Creek and Mount Jefferson areas — before talking about good places to hike and observe the scars left behind by the fires.
Finally, Zach reposts a podcast recorded in the wake of the Labor Day Fires that talks about the we...2023-04-2547 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues10 most 'extraordinary' spring hikes in every region of OregonIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks with noted guidebook author Matt Reeder about the best spring hikes in every corner of the state and his latest book, "Extraordinary Oregon! 125 Fantastic Hikes Across the State of Oregon."
Zach and Matt talk about 10 of the best but over overlooked spring-specific hikes in the state. They travel to a coastal hike below massive sea walls, into the rugged Badger Creek Wilderness and journey into a narrow crack in a vertical wall of Steens Mountain.
Matt also talks about his motivation for the book and what makes it stand out...2023-04-201h 05
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesSpring break skiing, Three Sisters shelter, El Nino fears and Oregon's cutest shorebird reboundsIn this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach talks about why it's so important to enjoy Oregon's robust snowpack and long ski season before rounding up a few good spring break travel ideas and highlighting some recent outdoors news.
Zach details how Oregon's ski areas are staying open through April and even May this year due to a good snowpack and mentions some spring deals that make getting on the lifts a bit cheaper. He then highlights a snowshoe and ski route to a snow shelter at the base of the Three Sisters.
Because of a potential El Nino...2023-03-2226 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe old-growth forest of the Salmon River trailsIn this edition, Zach heads to the ancient forest of the Salmon River hiking trails between Portland and Mount Hood.
Zach talks about the easy, medium and difficult way to explore one of Oregon's most spectacular old-growth temperate rainforests.
The podcast highlights Wildwood Recreation Site and Salmon River hiking trails heading into the Salmon Huckleberry Wilderness, breaking down how to backpack, day-hike and explore the area.
He also highlights some extreme whitewater kayaking to visit the area's hidden waterfalls and a trip to an abandon fire lookout at the top of a nearby mountain.2023-03-1325 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesColumbia Gorge permits axed, new bill charts future of outdoor rec, snowy waterfall tripsHost Zach Urness wraps up the latest outdoors news before heading out on the state's best snowy waterfall trips.
In the first half of the episode, Urness hits on the end of timed entry permits for the Columbia Gorge's waterfall corridor, Oregon's snowpack jumping to 108% of normal with more on the way and the future of outdoor recreation business in light of lawsuits, an Oregon Supreme Court decision and new legislation.
In the second half, Urness talks about his favorite trips to snow-covered waterfalls.2023-02-1745 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesNews updates and February travel: Non-exploding whales, historic heat and Oregon redwoodsIn the latest edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach wraps up the latest outdoors news and includes a handful of fun places to travel in February during this newsletter-style podcast.
Zach talks about the series of dead whales that washed up on the Oregon Coast last month and looks at whether it's a big deal or not, along with dispelling the notion that Oregon will once again use dynamite to explode the whale carcasses, as the state attempted in the 1970s. He also touches on a string of historically hot years in the Beaver State, the number of boating...2023-02-0132 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesNew era at Silver Falls State Park: New campground, waterfall hike, cabin villageIn this episode, Zach talks about all the big new changes at Silver Falls State Park.
Park officials are planning a new trailhead and waterfall trail, a new campground and visitor's center, all while expanding the park by upgrading a backcountry area now known as the Smith Creek Village.
Zach talked to Silver Falls manager Chris Gilliand and operator of the new Smith Creek Villages Brooke Gerken.
Zach also details other updates at the park, including the return of guided tree climbing, adventure races and the network of backcountry trails.
Finally, he touches on the history of how the park...2023-01-1226 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesCrater Lake winter road trip: hot springs, waterfalls, snow campingIn this episode, Zach takes a winter road trip to Crater Lake National Park and talks about how to get the most out of your journey.
Oregon’s only national park becomes a winter wonderland during the year’s coldest months, becoming an amazing place to snowshoe, ski, snow camp or just get views of the lake while sitting indoors.
But the journey to Crater Lake also offers opportunity. The mountain highways leading to the park feature waterfalls, hot springs and snow adventures.
Zach offers a roadmap to some of his favorite spots along the way and returning from Crater Lake2022-12-2851 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBiggest stories of summer '22 include wildfires, campsite pirates, permitsIn this episode, Zach breaks down the biggest stories from the summer of 2022.
He details the wildfire season and how this year compared to previous seasons, including acres burned, homes lost and days with unhealthy air. He also gets into the summer climate, Oregon's "year of the permit," conservation legislation and recreation trends that include growing anger and hostility among campers.
Zach then talks about covering a sad and strange tale of a hike, a plane crash and reality television star Heavy D in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.2022-11-0230 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues'East winds' are fueling wildfire havoc in Oregon. But why and how?In this episode, Zach talks to wildfire meteorologist Eric Wise about a weather pattern known simply as "east winds," which fueled the 2020 Labor Day Fires and last weekend's widespread power shutdowns and wildfires that brought evacuations to Salem, Estacada and Oakridge.
Wise explains where the east winds come from, why they make Oregon wildfires so explosive and whether climate change is making them more powerful or frequent. In other words, are scary east wind events a "new normal?"
The second half of the podcast features Zach making an appearance on Oregon Public Broadcasting show Think Out Loud. The show's host...2022-09-1338 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues12 best backpacking trips with kids, plus tips to make it happenIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach welcomes a trio of fun guests to talk about about going backpacking with kids and the best places to visit.
Zach is joined by Bonnie Henderson, his co-author of the guidebook "Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon," along with 11-year-old backpackers Nate and Mary Evans, who share their thoughts from a kids' prospective.
The group picks 12 great backpacking trips that land on the easy side and are good fits for younger backpackers (or just someone looking for an easier trip).
Nate and Mary talk about everything from what treats to bring on...2022-09-0744 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesIllinois Valley: Sleep in a treehouse, explore caves, swim emerald pools and eat some 'sweet cron'In this episode, Zach and Skyla head down Highway 199 to visit southwest Oregon's rugged and beautiful Illinois Valley. It's a place where you can sleep in a treehouse resort, go off trail at the Oregon Caves National Monument, visit art galleries featuring crystal artwork and reach mountain swimming holes, alpine lakes and big summits with a short drive. Zach and Skyla also talk about the controversial "sweet cron" sign along Highway 199 and some tasty eats in towns such as Cave Junction.2022-08-1653 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues10 glorious swimming holes; Zach OPB interview; burned forest to reopensThis episode is all about Oregon's heat wave. To start, Zach is interviewed on Oregon Public Broadcasting about ways to stay safe and get outdoors amid 100 degree temps. Then, Zach talks about the latest on plans to reopen iconic forest burned in the Labor Day Fires around Mount Jefferson, Detroit and Opal Creek. Finally, Zach and Statesman Journal outdoors intern Skyla Patton pick 10 of Oregon's best swimming spots.2022-07-2545 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues20 greatest Oregon river trips for thrilling whitewater and glorious campsitesIn this episode, Zach and three river experts pick the 20 best river trips in Oregon for whitewater thrills and overnight camping adventures. They talk about what makes streams such as the Rogue, Deschutes and Clackamas rivers so incredible and detail how to make the trips happen while also covering lesser-known streams.
Guests on the episode include:
Zach Collier, owner of Northwest Rafting Company
Jacob Cruser, co-author of "Paddling Pacific Northwest Whitewater" and author of the blog Into the Outside
Jared Linkhart, a longtime rafter and river sage to boaters learning to get their family on the water2022-07-151h 25
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWhat is fastpacking? And counting down beautiful wilderness trips in Southern OregonIn this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach is joined by well-known trail runner and ultramarathoner Ryan Ghelfi to talk about the art of "fastpacking" — a combination of trail running and backpacking.
Ryan and Zach then pick their favorite wilderness spots within the mythic "State of Jefferson" — otherwise known as Southern Oregon and extreme Northern California.2021-05-1058 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesGrants Pass: What's in a name? And Zach's top picksIn this episode, hosts Zach Urness and David Davis talk about the outdoor paradise around Southern Oregon's Grants Pass while discussing the history of the town's name — which includes murder, betrayal and a Civil War general.
Urness, who lived in Grants Pass for six years, also talks about meeting the founder of Dutch Bros and the glory of the Rogue River, the Illinois River, local mountain biking spots and the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve.2020-11-0618 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesThe Labor Day wildfires that devastated the Santiam CanyonIn this edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, hosts Zach Urness and David Davis talk about the genesis of the fires that ripped through the Santiam Canyon the night of Labor Day 2020 and into the next morning, devastating communities up and down the canyon.2020-10-0326 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesWinter Waterfall Hunting: Snowshoe or ski to these Oregon gemsIn this week's edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach details his favorite winter activity, visiting waterfalls shrouded in snow and ice.2020-02-0424 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesFishing at Detroit Lake: Insider's guide to fishing this Willamette Valley reservoirZach is joined by fishing poet and Western Oregon University professor Henry Hughes to talk fishing at Detroit Lake.2019-12-2333 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesCut your own Christmas tree in Oregon's National Forests: Everything to knowOutdoors writer Zach Urness shares how to make an adventure out of finding your special Christmas tree in Willamette National Forest.2019-12-1613 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesBackcountry snorkeling: Exploring Oregon's underwater canyons in the woodsZach finds inspiration from dives performed by biologists conducting fish counts and discusses a combination of hikes into the backcountry and underwater snorkeling. We look at snorkeling opportunities on the Collawash River, Little North Santiam, Elk Lake Creek and more.2019-07-2315 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesOregon Desert Trail: Discover Oregon's high desertOutdoors editor Zach Urness speaks with Renee Patrick, coordinator for the Oregon Desert Trail, about the challenging eastern Oregon route that will open the eyes of hikers to the wonders of the high desert.2019-06-1126 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesGear we love for Oregon's outdoorsIn this episode outdoors editor Zach Urness and producer David Davis are joined by Salem Summit Company's Tori Mullins to highlight gear they can't live without.2018-12-2043 min
Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issuesFire lookout towers: Your guide to booking a nightIn this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, outdoors editor Zach Urness and producer David Davis discuss the fascinating history of these 'tall houses' located deep in the woods.2018-11-0346 min