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

Everything to know about exploring Oregon's best outdoor destinations from the Statesman Journal including where to camp, hike, bike and more.

Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues is a science podcast hosted by Zach Urness / Statesman Journal, with 242 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Zach Urness / Statesman Journal hosts Explore Oregon Podcast: The state's most beautiful places and biggest issues, a science show with 242 episodes published.

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

  Why McNeil Point, on Mount Hood, is one of Oregon's best hikes

  Sep 30, 202616 min

  In this episode, host Zach Urness and intern Makenzie Stamets talk about one of Mount Hood's most beautiful hikes — McNeil Point. Stamets takes listeners up the steep but scenic trail, past old-growth forest to a historic stone shelter and finally to the summit. The two also talk about best routes, biggest highlights and the point's namesake — Fred McNeil — who was a longtime newspaper and outdoorsman.

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

  Why are Oregon's beloved outdoor gear shops struggling, closing?

  Sep 25, 202636 min

  In this episode, intern Makenzie Stamets talks with the owner of Peak Sports in Corvallis about their decision to downside and the challenging environment facing outdoor retail in 2026. Stamets talks with Larry Desaulniers about Peak's rise in becoming a top bike shop and outdoor retailer in Oregon, and the challenges it and many other retailers have faced since the pandemic. He talked about the company's recent move and downsizing, and what caused it.

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

  Want to climb 300-foot old-growth Oregon trees? Here's how to make it happen

  Sep 10, 202640 min

  In this reposted episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness talks with Leo Rosen-Fischer, an expert of recreational tree climbing in the Pacific Northwest and owner Tree Climbing at Silver Falls. They talk about what recreational tree climbing is — using ropes, a harness and other equipment to ascend high up old-growth trees — before detailing the types of giant trees you can climb in the backcountry of Silver Falls State Park. They talk about how tree climbing works for younger kids and older adults, how you can actually camp at the top of a nearly 300-foot tree and how Rosen-Fischer and state parks officials ensure the activity is not harming the trees or displacing animals.

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

  Sport climbing began at Smith Rock State Park. Here's how it happened

  Sep 4, 202630 min

  In this episode, intern Makenzie Stamets talks with climbing historian Jeff Thomas about how sport climbing was born and developed at Smith Rock State Park in central Oregon. Thomas has been climbing at Smith since the 70s and has written two of the state's influential guidebooks. The two talk about how this all came together and the controversy that came with it.

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

  Is Oregon's most popular surf spot amazing or overhyped?

  Aug 28, 202626 min

  In this episode, host Zach Urness and intern Riley Ellis talk about surfing at Short Sand Beach, Oregon's most popular surfing destination. Short Sand, located in Oswald West State Park, garners 1.3 million visitors a year and features a beautiful half-mile hike to the ocean. Many of those visitors go to Short Sands Beach to catch waves. Riley Ellis, who grew up surfing in Lincoln City, sought to find out if Shorty's is overhyped or deserving of its reputation as a surfer's paradise.

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