Shasta-Trinity National Forest Spring Mushroom Season Dates Announced

Press release from the Shasta-Trinity National Forest Service:

Spring mushroom harvest season has begun on the Shasta-McCloud Management Unit. While many outdoor enthusiasts take to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest during spring to enjoy wildflowers, hunt, or fish, some venture out in search of wild mushrooms. The end of the season will be July 31, 2025.

Wild mushrooms typically grow under the cover of leaves, dead wood, and other forest debris, quickly emerging after moderate or heavy rain. Among the more popular mushrooms available are morels and boletus.

Forest visitors new to harvesting mushrooms should familiarize themselves with how to differentiate between edible and poisonous varieties. Some show similar characteristics and so it is always best to go with someone who knows what they are doing when starting out.

Harvesting for personal use is free and the daily limit is 1 gallon in possession with a seasonal limit of 5 Gallons. Mushrooms harvested for personal use cannot be sold or exchanged. When harvesting for free personal use, mushrooms with a cap diameter equal to or greater than two inches must be cut or broken into quarter sections as soon as they are picked. Following the harvest regulations detailed in the incidental use brochure will allow for future growth for years to come.

Commercial Use permits may be purchased by anyone 18 years or older. Permit rates are $1.00 per pound or 5 pounds/$5 per day. The minimum commercial use permit that can be purchased is a $20 permit for twenty pounds, and the permit is valid for 4 days. The maximum commercial use permit which can be purchased is a $150 permit for 150 pounds that is valid for 29 days after the purchase date. Additional days can be purchased at $5.00 per day. All permits are issued on an individual basis. These permits are not valid on private land.

Please note that there are rules against raking ground litter as it destroys the mushroom ‘beds’ and it takes quite a long time for them to recover. Additionally, we encourage you to be courteous to other pickers, pack out what garbage you pack into the forest, and try to be light on the land, especially when roadways are wet and muddy. Use caution when traveling on Forest System roads and watch for fallen trees and road surface damage while you are driving and overhead hazards walking through the woods.

For further information about safe types of mushrooms and environmentally protective harvesting methods, please contact the McCloud Ranger Station at (530) 964-2184 or the Mt. Shasta Ranger Station at (530) 926-4511.