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Mushrooms
-
Mycology on Mt. Hood
Mushrooms grow well here thanks to the moderate climate and frequent precipitation. There are many edible varieties of mushrooms including morel, chanterelle, oyster, and matsutake.
Mushrooms are the fruiting part of fungi. Carefully pluck or cut mushrooms without disturbing the ground to protect its fungal net. By cutting off mushrooms instead of digging or pulling them up, you help sustain a healthy fungi population for the future.
Best Practices for Mushroom Harvesting
- Tread lightly while searching for mushrooms
- Use extraction tools no larger than one-inch wide
- Replace soil disturbed while collecting
- No raking or digging with shovels, nor pulling mushrooms up
- Use a basket to harvest mushrooms to spread spores
- Truffle hunting or harvest is prohibited!
- WARNING: Many edible mushrooms have poisonous look-a-likes. Be absolutely confident in your mushroom identification skills before consuming. Consider learning mushroom identification with an experienced harvester and bring a mushroom identification guide.
Incidental Use
"Incidental use" allows users on the Mt. Hood National Forest to harvest small quantities of select special forest products, intended for personal use, without a permit. . Learn more about incidental use products & harvesting.
Please follow all guidelines and recommendations for incidental use mushroom harvesting:
- All mushroom picking is prohibited within: Research areas, wilderness, developed recreation areas, riparian areas/near rivers and streams, and other designated non-harvest areas.
- Mushrooms collected under incidental use are for personal use only. They cannot be sold, bartered, or exchanged.
- Incidental use mushroom harvest is limited to 1 gallon per day and a total of 10 gallons per year.
- Reference the Incidental Use Information Sheet before heading out!
Please use the Mushroom Maps below, which indicate where mushroom gathering is allowed for personal use:
- Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts - Mushroom Harvest Map
- Clackamas River Ranger District - Mushroom Harvesting Map
- Zigzag Ranger District - Mushroom Harvesting Map
| Special Forest Products | Daily Limit per person |
Annual Limit per person |
|---|---|---|
|
Mushrooms |
1 gallon |
10 gallons |
Commercial/Charge Use
A commercial permit is required to sell, barter, or exchange mushrooms, or collect more than 10 gallons of mushrooms per year. Commercial mushroom permits can be requested at our district offices.
View a digital version of the Mt. Hood Mushroom Map. You will also receive a paper copy of the map upon purchase of your commercial permit.
Any amount over $20 will be sold in 2-gallon increments. For each additional 2 gallons purchased, you will receive 1 additional day to your permit.
| Special Forest Products | Cost |
|---|---|
|
Commercial Mushrooms (Including Matsutake) |
$4 per gallon |
|
Commercial Mushrooms (Excluding Matsutake) |
$1 per gallon |
Be Prepared
Safety should be your first priority.
- Check road conditions and weather before heading to the Forest.
- Know and follow any fire restrictions or area closures.
- Consider minimum impact practices when visiting the outdoors. Learn more about the 7 principles of Leave No Trace ethics.
- Be alert for hazards, especially in burned areas, which have an increased likelihood of landslides, mudslides, flash floods, and debris flows.