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

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.

In 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.

Zach speaks with Lisa Sumption, the director of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, and longtime parks spokesman Chris Havel to talk about why parks were shut down, how they've been impacted and what comes next — including when yurts and cabins will reopen.