Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues
Society & Culture
About
Everything to know about exploring Oregon's best outdoor destinations from the Statesman Journal including where to camp, hike, bike and more.
Episodes
- New $3.4 million trail system coming to iconic Blue Pool on the McKenzie River
In this episode, Zach talks about the new trail system being constructed to access the popular site known as Blue Pool on the McKenzie River east of Eugene. Urness talks with Willamette National Forest recreation program manager Matt Peter…
- Oregon's 20 greatest river trips (repost)
In this 2022 episode, host Zach Urness and three river experts pick the 20 best river trips in the state for whitewater thrills and overnight camping adventures. The group talks about what makes rivers such as the Rogue, Deschutes and Clac…
- When will beloved Opal Creek finally reopen? Forest Service lays out plan
In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with the U.S. Forest Service about when the Opal Creek area will finally reopen. The 35,000-acre wilderness and recreation area was severely burned and closed by the Beachie Creek Fire in September o…
- 10 amazing Oregon fire lookout hikes (and how to spend the night)
In this episode, host Zach Urness chats with author Cheryl Hill about her new book "Hiking Oregon's Fire Lookouts." Hill picks 10 of her favorite lookout hikes and all the details needed to visit. She also talks about the history of lookou…
- U.S. Forest Service chief Tom Schultz defends reorganization plans in interview
U.S. Forest Service chief Tom Schultz defends reorganization plans in interview by Zach Urness / Statesman Journal
- Detroit Lake 'mini cabins' becoming a hit. Plus, five spring adventures nearby
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks about the popular mini cabins at Detroit Lake State Park and great places to visit nearby during the spring. The cabins were originally intended as staff housing for sea…
- The past, present and future of Oregon's timber industry
This episode explores the history, present, and future of Oregon's timber industry. It covers the Trump administration's logging initiatives and the emerging "mass timber" building style, which could benefit forests, rural economies, and h…
- Oregon lawmaker talks major wildlife bill, public lands and controversial waterway permits
Oregon State Representative Ken Helm joined host Zach Urness to discuss a bill protecting wildlife, funded by an increase in the transient lodging tax. They also covered legislation for outdoor recreation, public land sales, and a new park…
- How Oregon's greatest disasters fueled rise of search and rescue (repost)
Host Zach Urness reposts a discussion with author Glenn Voelz about the history of Oregon's search and rescue. Voelz's book covers notable searchers, significant disasters like those on Mount Hood, and the influence of groups like the Maza…
- Spectacular Abiqua Falls is for sale. What to know about the effort to preserve it
The Explore Oregon Podcast discusses the sale of Abiqua Falls and the associated preservation efforts. Host Zach Urness speaks with Adam Sawyer about the waterfall's significance and with Travis Williams about legislative efforts to acquir…
- Repost: How the McKenzie River Drift Boat became world famous
Host Zach Urness speaks with Randy Dersham, director of "Oregon's Boat," a documentary about the evolution of the McKenzie River Drift Boat. The film explores how the boat became suitable for whitewater rivers across the West.
- What outdoors bills are coming to the Oregon Legislature in 2026? Wildlife, liability, permits
Explore Oregon Podcast host Zach Urness previews upcoming outdoor-related bills for the 2026 Oregon legislative session. Topics include potential fixes for ski area liability, a hotel tax for wildlife conservation, corner crossing issues,…
- Will Oregon's mountains get any more snow this winter? Plus, where did 2025 rank in terms of heat, rain?
The Explore Oregon podcast discusses the state's mountain snow deficit with climatologist Larry O'Neill, exploring the winter forecast. The conversation also covers 2025's ranking for heat and rainfall, noting it was the third-warmest year…
- Oregon winter rec season finally underway, storm damage closures, best stories of 2025
Host Zach Urness covers the delayed start to Oregon's winter recreation season, storm damage impacting popular outdoor sites, and notable people and places featured in 2025.
- Visit world's largest trees with trip to the Grove of the Titans (repost)
In this reposted episode, host Zach Urness talks about the mythic Grove of Titans, a collection of the largest redwood trees on earth, located just south of the Oregon and California state line. This podcast, which originally published in…
- Find hot trout fishing in the 'disappearing river' of Lookout Point
In this episode, host Zach Urness goes fishing in an unusual place — the bottom of an empty reservoir on a stream that only appears for a few weeks every year. The place in question is Lookout Point Lake, a reservoir southeast of Eugene ju…
- Trailblazing Oregon Fish and Wildlife director talks fishing fees, wolves, coho boom and more
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with Debbie Colbert, director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Colbert became the first female director of ODFW, an agency tracing its history back to the…
- Getting a Christmas tree in Oregon's national forest is affordable and fun. Here's how to do it
In this episode, host Zach Urness reposts his tips and tricks to finding the perfect Christmas tree in Oregon's national forests. With a $5 permit, you can travel far and wide in the national forests to find a tree to bring home — whether…
- The glory of Oregon's 'scenic bikeways' with author Dan Shryock
In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with author Dan Shryock about his book on Oregon's Scenic Bikeways. Shryock, who wrote "Cycling Across Oregon" in 2024, talks about what inspired the book, his eight favorite rides and what he discov…
- A delicious but notorious fish mysteriously shows up at Lookout Point, Upper Willamette Basin
In this episode, host Zach Urness looks at the curious case of how a non-native fish, walleye, showed up at Lookout Point Reservoir and was then flushed into the Upper Willamette River Basin. Urness interviews two fish biologists about how…
- Favorite podcast tales volume 2: Detroit ghost wagon, Hoodoo history, Proposal Rock, New River drug bust
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness brings back a second volume of his favorite weird, wild and quirky stories from the first 70 episodes of the podcast. This edition features: - Why Hood River was once called "…
- Favorite podcast tales volume 1: Betrayal in Grants Pass, a nuke at Cape Kiwanda, D River showdown
Favorite podcast tales volume 1: Betrayal in Grants Pass, a nuke at Cape Kiwanda, D River showdown by Zach Urness / Statesman Journal
- News roundup: Shutdown, 2025 wildfire season, great news for coho and awful news for Douglas fir
Host Zach Urness breaks down how the government shutdown is impacting Oregon's public lands and three other news stories focusing on wildfires, salmon and Douglas fir trees. Urness talks about the status of national parks and monuments suc…
- Hike to these 5 mountain lakes to catch big trout
In this episode, host Zach Urness highlights five Cascade Mountain lakes where you can hike and catch good-sized trout. This shorter episode includes how to find the lakes, what you can catch there and how to bring them in. The lakes in qu…
- How to backpack the Timberline Trail around Mount Hood
In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoors intern Rose Shimberg about backpacking the 40-mile trail around Mount Hood: the Timberline Trail. In late August, Shimberg spent three nights backpacking the loop, journeying through te…
- Untold: How an Oregon ranger saved hundreds from the 2020 Labor Day Fires
In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with an Oregon ranger that saved hundreds of people from the path of the deadly 2020 Labor Day Fires. Nikki Swanson, Sweet Home district ranger for Willamette National Forest, spurred a major evacuat…
- Opal Creek reopening, Labor Day Fires lookback, North Cascades road trip
Host Zach Urness talks about plans to reopen beloved Opal Creek, the five year anniversary of the Labor Day Fires and about traveling to Washington's North Cascades National Park. Earlier this month, Urness reported that Opal Creek was lik…
- How to get up close views of whales on the Oregon Coast
In this episode, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Mariah Johnston talk about how to go whale watching in Depoe Bay to see giant whales — specifically from a boat. Located along Oregon's central Coast, Depoe Bay is known as the whale wa…
- Head underground at Oregon's Lava River Cave and Mitchell Point Tunnel
In this episode, host Zach Urness talks to outdoors intern Rose Shimberg about two of Oregon's subterranean destinations. Urness and Shimberg talk first about the Lava River Cave, a mile-deep lava tube outside of Bend and the longest in Or…
- 10 best Oregon mountain climbs that don't require ropes
In this episode, first published in 2021, Zach talks to mountain climb leader Michael Gurley about the best high mountain hikes and climbs that don't require ropes in Oregon. Zach and Michael pick 10 different mountain peaks that Oregonian…
- Last call at Crater Lake: How to swim, boat and fish for the last time until 2029
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Mariah Johnston talk about how to swim, boat and fish in the water of Crater Lake National Park’s for the last time until 2029. Located in southern Oregon,…
- Linton Lake: Rare trout, giant waterfalls and old-growth forest highlight pool in Three Sisters
In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about hiking, camping and fishing for rare brown trout at Linton Lake in the Three Sisters Wilderness. Located a mile off McKenzie Pass Highway 242, Linton Lake features old-growth forest, a place to…
- Oregon's state parks face closures and cuts. Here's the director's plan to avoid that
In 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 campgr…
- Popular railbiking trip finally comes within reach of the Willamette Valley
In 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 b…
- Cool 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 underwa…
- News roundup: New fees for fishing and boating, the fight for public lands and dark times for Oregon ski areas
In 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 la…
- This 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,…
- Want 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, Urne…
- How 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 Dav…
- Rafting through a 10,000-acre wildfire; plus how Cottonwood Canyon was saved from the Ferry Fire
In 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. E…
- The art of trout fishing Oregon's hike-in mountain lakes
In 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…
- 10 spectacular backpacking trips for each month of summer (repost)
In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach and guidebook author Franziska of Hike Oregon pick 10 of their favorite backpacking trips for June, July, August and September as the high outdoor recreation season gets underway. In this…
- Silver Falls upgrades, and the 'almost' Oregon national parks
In 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 s…
- Eugene to add mountain bike trails, expand Ridgeline Trail system for riders and hikers
In 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 an…
- The most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens
In 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 be…
- The most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens, offering spring and summer adventure
In 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…
- Oregon'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…
- Newsletter pod: Last call at Crater Lake, Oregon smashes parks visits record, ski season review
In 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 sea…
- Repost: 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 Ore…
- Trailkeepers of Oregon work to save trails amid federal cuts to funding, public lands
Host 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 fut…