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

A new trail system was recently completed that provides access to to the Grove of Titans inside California's Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park. We'll talk about how this is a huge win and give you details on visiting these giants.

Zach and David revisit how to head into Oregon's national forest and find a Christmas tree for just $5.  They break down a program from the U.S. Forest Service that allows bringing home a tree less than 12 feet tall from the mountains.

Zach talks with Jordan Dodge, a board member of the Willamette Valley Mushroom Society and a commercial mushroom seller, to learn the tips and tricks to finding these amazing edibles in Oregon forests.

Zach and Eddy Binford Ross report on the status of Shellburg Falls, one of Oregon's most popular waterfall hikes that was burned by the 2020 Beachie Creek Fire.

Zach is joined by Beth Dayton of the Salem Area Trail Alliance to talk about new mountain bike trails at Silver Falls State Park and work SATA has done bringing new trails to the Salem area.

Zach interviews Bonnie Henderson, an expert on backpacking and thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail.  Henderson talks about the differences in each segment of the trail — which are most scenic or challenging — while detailing critical factors such as the best season to backpack, why reading tide tables is important and where you'll need arrange for ferry rides to cross large bays.

In this episode Zach and David discuss the summer of 2021 and its extreme heatwaves, new permit systems and of course wildfires. Then, new outdoors intern Eddy Binford-Ross travels to Sisters to share one group's quest to restore a forgotten trail in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.

Zach interviews Eric Davis, owner and operator of @OregonCoastAgates, about the best places to find agates on the Oregon Coast and some pro tips to have a successful hunt.

In this edition, Zach interviews guidebook author Matt Reeder about the best places to explore in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness, an 111,000 acre backcountry paradise that has been shaped by wildfire.

There's a new trail linking Corvallis to the Oregon Coast. Zach talks with Gary Chapman, president of the C2C Trail Partnership, to learn more about more this long-anticipated route that takes hikers and bikers from the Willamette Valley to Ona Beach.