Yreka, Calif., May 6, 2024—Many kinds of edible mushrooms grow in Siskiyou County, including morels, chanterelles, shaggy mane, puffballs, boletes, and oyster mushrooms. The USDA Forest Service welcomes mushroom collecting on the Klamath National Forest and offers some tips and information.
Jennifer Iaccarino, Salmon-Scott River District Botanist for the Klamath National Forest, emphasizes caution when foraging for mushrooms. “Mushrooms can be difficult to correctly identify. Poisonous mushrooms do occur in our area and can be hard to distinguish from edible species. If in doubt, do not consume any wild mushrooms. Learn from experienced mushroom collectors and use a guidebook to learn what is safe and what is not.”
Mushroom collecting on the Klamath National Forest requires a permit. Forest Service offices in Happy Camp, Macdoel, and Fort Jones sell three different mushroom permits. A $20 permit allows up to eight gallons of mushrooms, collected over four consecutive days. A $50 permit allows up to 20 gallons, collected over 30 consecutive days. Additional days may be purchased for $5 a day. A $100 season permit allows up to 40 gallons for the season. If you reach your gallon limit, you can buy another permit. Each permit is only valid for collecting mushrooms from National Forest land within the Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District, Goosenest Ranger District, and Salmon/Scott Ranger District. Separate permits are required for the fall mushroom season.
Permits can be purchased by visiting or calling the following offices.
- Goosenest Ranger District (37805 Highway 97, Macdoel, CA) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, (530) 398-4391
- Happy Camp/Oak Knoll Ranger District (63822 Highway 96, Happy Camp, CA) open weekdays from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, (530) 598-9310
- Salmon/Scott Ranger District (11263 N. Highway 3, Fort Jones, CA) open weekdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, (530) 468-5351
In order to ensure the sustainability of spring mushroom harvest, each permit has additional conditions and restrictions intended to regulate harvest. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to read and understand those conditions. Ranger districts can also provide information on mushroom harvesting, camping, or fire restrictions. Please take safety precautions when venturing out in the woods. Consider weather and road conditions before travelling. Stop by your local Forest Service office to inquire about current Forest closures and to obtain a free Klamath National Forest Motor Vehicle Use Map so you know what roads are open to vehicles and where they are. Let someone know where you intend on picking mushrooms and remember that cell phone coverage is limited in many areas of the forest. For more information on the Klamath National Forest go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/klamath.
