Explore Oregon Podcast: Idyllic floats and campsites on the underrated Willamette River

In this episode of the Explore Oregon Podcast, host Zach Urness returns to one of the state's great backyard gems — the Willamette Water Trail.

Urness highlights his two favorite places to float and camp on the mainstem Willamette that feature surprisingly beautiful scenery, wildlife habitat and camps just a stone's throw from cities such as Eugene, Corvallis and Salem.

Then, Urness plays an interview from 2021 with former Willamette Riverkeeper executive director Travis Williams — now with Willamette River Preservation Trust — about the best floats, history and things to know about being on the Willamette.

More: Willamette River bliss: Camp, swim and fish water trail near Peoria

More: Beautiful boat-in campsites highlight Willamette River near Salem, if you know where to look

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Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast . Urness is the author of “ Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon ” and “ Hiking Southern Oregon .” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Explore Oregon Podcast: Idyllic floats and campsites on the underrated Willamette River