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

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Elliott Deins talk about backpacking the Three Sisters Wilderness and "float tube fishing" in Oregon's backcountry lakes. Deins breaks down one of Oregon's most beautiful and challenging backpacking routes, the Broken Top Loop, including how many miles it takes, where you can camp and the major highlights — and there are many. Urness talks about hiking into the Mount Jefferson Wilderness carrying a "float tube" — basically an inflatable chair — that allows for far superior fishing at alpine lakes. Urness explains the upsides and downsides and some of the best places to fish in the Jefferson area.

In this episode, host Zach Urness goes deep on the record coho salmon runs in the Upper Willamette Basin. Urness talks with Chris Kern, the west region manager for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, about what makes coho unique, why their numbers have been skyrocketing and how anglers can catch them.

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks about three different major stories involving salmon in Oregon. And, he posts a really fun song about salmon sent to him by a reader. Stories: -A record-breaking run of coho salmon in the Upper Willamette Basin -Salmon reaching spawning grounds on the Klamath River for the first time in over a century -The tough situation at Green Peter Reservoir, where one type of salmon (kokanee) has been sacrificed for the hoped rebuilding of another (spring chinook). Finally, Urness ends by posting a catchy song about salmon.

In this episode, host Zach Urness and outdoors intern Skyla Patton get excited about the peak season for finding Oregon's delicious and beautiful state mushroom. In an interview first recorded in 2022, Patton breaks down everything about the Pacific Golden Chanterelle, including where and when to find it, how to eat it, how to get permits to harvest them and trickier questions including whether you can over-harvest the beloved mushroom. The two discuss everything from the science of why chanterelles grow across western Oregon, best recipes and what the evidence suggests about cutting them or pulling them from the ground.

In this edition, Zach talks about a collection of outdoor stories including: -A group of women who went backpacking in the Three Sisters Wilderness and had to evacuate when multiple wildfires ignited all around them. -A record wildfire season for acres burned in the PNW and Oregon. -Contrasting views on how to protect Oregon's Owyhee Canyonlands. -One of Oregon's most beautiful waterfall views and why there's not an official trail leading to it.

In this episode, Zach talks with outdoors journalism intern Elliott Deins about how to explore underwater at Clear Lake. Deins reports on the origins of Clear Lake, what makes it interesting, why it’s a hotspot for divers and the best gear to plunge into the frigid waters. With consistent visibility over 100 feet and water temperatures around 40 degrees year-round, it’s always a good time for a dive in Clear Lake. Deins talks with experts about the uniqueness of “the world’s biggest swimming pool”— and exploring a sunken forest that feels like a different planet— while detailing dive locations, why you should stay off the bottom and recommendations for a good day at Clear Lake.

In this edition, Zach interviews Bonnie Henderson, an expert on backpacking and thru-hiking the Oregon Coast Trail.  Henderson, author of the book "Hiking the Oregon Coast Trail: 400 Miles from the Columbia River to California," talks about what makes the trail unique and the best ways to pull off a trip.  September can be a great month to explore the OCT, with smaller crowds but still nice weather. Henderson talks about the differences in each segment of the trail while detailing critical factors such as the best season to backpack, why reading tide tables is important and where you'll need to arrange for ferry rides to cross large bays.

In this episode, host Zach Urness updates some of the latest news about Oregon's state parks system, including major fee increases to camp and visit, before launching a deep dive into how the park system came together over 100 years. Urness talks with associate parks director Chris Havel and historian Christy Sweet about the park system's long, winding and goofball history. It makes for a fun listen for anyone on a Labor Day Weekend road trip in Oregon's outdoors. The story centers on the colorful and bombastic Sam Boardman, known as the "father of Oregon's state parks system," who built the system from the ground up beginning in the 1920s. It's a story of ambition and conservation, of colorful characters, near-calamity and rebirth.

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoor intern Emma Logan about the best mountain bike destinations across Oregon. The two break down the best spots to ride near Mount Hood, on the Oregon Coast and in central, southwest and eastern Oregon. The destinations range from smaller trail systems new to the scene to internationally recognized trails in Oakridge. Urness and Logan discuss their favorite trails, what make those areas unique and how mountain bike trails have changed over the years.

In this episode, host Zach Urness talks with outdoor intern Emma Logan about mountain biking in Oakridge. This small town has put itself on the map with a world class trail network. With over 300 miles of trails, Oakridge is one of the six gold-level ride centers in the world and has been dubbed "Mountain Biking Capital of the Northwest." This episode includes an interview with Marcello Ojerio, a bike mechanic and longtime local rider who works at the Oakridge Bike Shop. Ojerio talks about what makes Oakridge trails special, how to pick the right ride and how to handle wildfires and smoke that have impacted the area the past few years.