Washington Trails
Association
Trails for everyone, forever
Washington Trails
AssociationTrails for everyone, forever
There's fungus among us on Washington trails. Check out some basic identification tips to learn more about mushrooms near you. By Joseph Gonzalez
Between mid-spring and late fall, Washington's trails are home to a diverse collection of mushrooms. They're incredible organisms; well worth getting to know. While we’re not professional mycologists, we can get you started with some basic identification tips. If you’re hooked, consider taking a class or purchasing a field guide, especially if you want to forage on your own.
Let's start with a fascinating fact. Mycelium (a network of white strands you may see if you dig in the dirt) is the main body of the fungi organism. Mushrooms are just the fruiting body of mycelium (like an apple on a tree). Mycelium lives year round, while mushrooms have 'seasons' depending on the conditions they need to fruit.
Mushrooms pop at lower elevations in the spring, but at higher elevations fruit later into summer as snow melts. Fall is the reverse of spring: mushrooms fruit earlier at higher elevations, while lower elevations have large flushes of mushrooms popping later in the season.
Mushroom people are largely secretive and eclectic, much like the fungi they obsess over. Many would-be mushroom hobbyists may find getting started challenging. This is partly due to America’s mycophobic culture, but mushroom foragers are fiercely protective of their favorite foraging spots. They likely spent years finding where to find the perfect mushrooms at the perfect time, so enter the experience with the expectation to learn, but not necessarily to be taught.
Follow these tips to accelerate your fungi familiarity:
There are a broad variety of mushrooms you may see on trail. Here are a few we've identified for you, but there are thousands more.
You’d be surprised what you won’t notice if you aren’t paying attention, including neon mushrooms. These beautifully textured fungi pop against the vibrant greens behind them.
Left to right: fly amanita, chicken of the woods and lobster mushroom. Media by Joseph Gonzalez
Fly agaric or fly amanita: Amanita muscaria might make you think of Mario or winter holidays. It grows in the ground under both deciduous and coniferous trees in the fall.
Chicken of the woods or sulfur shelf: Laetiporus conifericola grows as (sometimes huge) shelves on conifers. Its underside is a bright yellow when young, fruiting in late summer/fall.
Lobster mushroom: Hypomyces lactifluorum is actually two species — Hypomyces is a parasitic fungi that takes over a gilled mushroom (usually a Russula). They grow in the ground under conifers in the fall.
Yellow mushrooms come in all shapes and sizes, and flush at different parts of the year, depending species. Keep an eye out in areas near trees with rich topsoil. They’re exciting to catch, although mistaking a fallen leaf for a mushroom is the worst part of fall hiking.
Left to right: burn morel, Pacific golden chanterelle and yellowfoot chanterelle. Media by Joseph Gonzalez
Landscape or burn morel: Morchella rufobrunnea thrive in recently disturbed soil. They can grow in mixed forests, conifer burn areas or wood chips at your trail next door mid to late spring.
Pacific golden chanterelle: Cantharellus formosus grow under conifers in the fall. Their gills have a unique vein-like pattern.
Yellowfoot or winter chanterelle: Craterellus tubaeformis is tiny, but fruits in bushels. It likes wet, mossy areas in the late fall.
Brown mushrooms come in a variety of shapes and species, and can fruit throughout the year. From the pungent candy cap, to the iconic porcini, there’s something for everyone, though you have to have a good eye to catch them.
Left to right: candy cap mushrooms, king bolete and natural morel. Media by Joseph Gonzalez
Candy cap mushroom: Lactarius rubidus is known for its powerful maple syrup aroma. When dried, one cap’s odor can fill an entire room. It grows in the ground under conifers and some varieties of oak in the fall.
King bolete aka porcini: Boletus edulis favors conifers. It grows in the mountains in the summer and in thick forests in the fall.
Natural morel: Morchella snyderi grows in association with the root of specific plants year after year (called a mycorrhizal relationship). It likes ponderosa pine belts on the eastern side of the Cascades in spring.
When you think of white mushrooms, chances are you think of Agaricus bisporus: the white mushroom you’ll find at the grocery store. But, if you pay attention, you’ll notice a wide variety of unique fungi, from the fragile shaggy mane, to the alien-like bear’s head. The best part? They grow in the backcountry and in backyards alike, and are the perfect mood-setter for a spooky fall.
Left to right: shaggy mane, bear's head and oyster mushrooms. Media by Joseph Gonzalez
Shaggy mane: Coprinus comatus likes disturbed areas (landscapes, roadsides) in the summer and fall. Find them quickly, because after a few days they’ll liquify into black goo.
Bear’s head mushroom: Hericium abeitis is best recognized by its white, icicle-like fruiting body. A close cousin to lion’s mane mushroom, bear’s head grows on conifers in the fall.
Oyster mushroom: Pleurotus ostreatus prefers hardwoods, but grow on conifers as well. It fruits in the fall at lower elevations, but subspecies can also be found in spring.
Pink and purple mushrooms can be tricky to spot along the dappled light of the forest floor, but keep an eye out: it's amazing how their rich colors can blend into an otherwise drab environment.
Left to right: scaly chanterelle and violet cort mushroom. Media by Joseph Gonzalez and Tynesha Campbell
Scaly chanterelle or wooly chanterelle: Gomphus floccosus is well-known by those in search of its cousin, the Pacific golden chanterelle. It’s distinguished by its pink to orange coloration and scales. Look for it in the ground in coniferous forests in fall.
Violet cort mushroom: Cortinarius violaceus likes conifer and mixed forests in the fall. Look for the deep violet colors on your next hike in Washington — they don’t always grow at lower latitudes!
Besides being colorful themselves, did you know mushrooms can yield a wide range of colorful dyes? Wool, fabrics and even hair can be naturally dyed with mushrooms. Not every mushroom’s dye will produce the actual color of the fruiting body. Some mycological societies offer courses on dying, and some will sell fungi-dyed fabrics as well.
Mushrooms are everywhere in Washington. Try these tips to find them. Remember, when identifying mushrooms, be a good steward. Leave them where you find them and take only photos. Only trained hobbyists should attempt to pick or consume mushrooms.
Looking to pick mushrooms for a meal? You'll want to join a mushrooming club and talk to lots of experts before going it alone. Mushrooms are fascinating but hard to read, and they're unique in that anyone can be allergic to any mushroom species.
Alcohol can exacerbate potentially negative reactions to wild mushrooms, so leave the wine bottle corked until you know your body can handle a specific mushroom species in a meal.
And finally, some lands require permits for those hoping to forage commercially. Foragers picking for personal use might also be required to use a permit, depending on the agency that manages whatever land you’re foraging. Be sure to research permits for the areas you plan to visit, and always do your research before plucking a mushroom and bringing it home.
