Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues

Latest Episodes:

How to float the John Day River — and who was John Day exactly? (Updated repost) Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

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.

Rafting through a 10,000-acre wildfire; plus how Cottonwood Canyon was saved from the Ferry Fire Jun 19, 2025

Show notes

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. 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 its staff, didn't lose any major buildings and is able to reopen on June 20.

The art of trout fishing Oregon's hike-in mountain lakes Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

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'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 them, and which taste best.

10 spectacular backpacking trips for each month of summer (repost) May 23, 2025

Show notes

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 podcast, first recorded in 2023, the trips recommended include shorter and longer backpacking routes, from 15 to 55 miles in length, in the Wallowa, Elkhorn, Cascade and Klamath-Siskiyou mountains. Franziska, the owner and operator of the website Hike Oregon, also has a new book that recently came out — "52 MORE Hikes for 52 MORE Weeks: In the Willamette Valley, Central Oregon Cascades & Coast."

Silver Falls upgrades, and the 'almost' Oregon national parks May 14, 2025

Show notes

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 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 for different reasons.

Eugene to add mountain bike trails, expand Ridgeline Trail system for riders and hikers May 08, 2025

Show notes

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 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 to Mount Pisgah.

The most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens May 01, 2025

Show notes

The most iconic Mount Jefferson road and trail finally reopens, offering spring and summer adventure Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

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 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 easy, medium and challenging trips here for the spring and summer, and also provides the background story on the two wildfires that roasted this area.

Oregon's wildest place: The Kalmiopsis Wilderness and why it's stunning in spring (repost) Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

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 Oregon have been significantly impacted by the federal cuts and are all looking to raise money to support their mission of keeping trails clear.

Newsletter pod: Last call at Crater Lake, Oregon smashes parks visits record, ski season review Apr 19, 2025

Show notes

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 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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Explore Oregon Podcast: The state’s most beautiful places and biggest issues

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected