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

We're joined by Emily Halnon to talk about her incredible feat to run 57 miles per day over mountain wilderness to set the speed record on the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Zach and David highlight Bandon's best adventures and events, from beach hiking to a sand art exhibition to mountain biking, camping and boating on a "new river." They also dive into the area's unique history, including a Native American princess turned to stone, a tragic wildfire and one of Oregon's biggest drug busts.

Zach is joined by Larry Warren, director of the Oregon State Marine Board. In the first half, we'll talk about the big stories surrounding boating on Oregon's waterways. Then, we'll pick our top boating, rafting and paddling destinations across the state.

In this week's edition of the Explore Oregon Podcast, Zach and David talk to Silver Falls State Park ranger Chris Gilliand about the night wildfires came terrifyingly close to burning Oregon's iconic state park.

Home to more than 70 miles of cross-country, snowshoe and snowmobile trails and featuring three backcountry snow shelters, Ray Benson features sweeping views of Mount Washington and Three-Fingered Jack.

We'll talk about hidden beaches of white sand, explore little-known pathways such as the Steam Donkey Trail and take a dive into the area's fascinating history, from a plan to create a nuclear power plant at Cape Kiwanda to a love-struck sea captain who asked for his lady's hand in marriage at a certain rock.

Zach and David close the books on 2020 with a look back at the year's biggest stories in Oregon's outdoors. Stories covered include a ghost wagon that rose from Detroit Lake, a man that escaped the Labor Day fires by sheltering on a river and the death of conservation icon George Atiyah.

In this episode, we discuss your best options for getting outside this winter and what to changes to expect. We also replay the Oregon State Parks draft from an earlier interview with state parks director Lisa Sumption.

In this episode Zach and guidebook author Matt Wastradowski talk about the best hikes of Oregon's McKenzie Pass.

The historic wildfire season burned and closed many iconic waterfalls while the continued impact of COVID-19 and storm damage has shuttered others. We talk about some of the best-known waterfalls in Northwest Oregon and whether they're open or closed, burned or unscathed.