Commercial and Personal Use Mushroom Harvest

Commercial Mushroom Harvesting Permits will not be sold in 2024.

Personal / Incidental Use mushroom picking is allowed anytime, see Personal Use information below.

Washington State forest product transportation requirements can be found under RCW 76.48.060 and at https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=76.48&full=true#76.48.061

 

Personal / Incidental Use Mushroom Gathering
Información GRATUITA sobre el uso personal de las setas

Harvest of five gallons per day is free. A free Incidental Use Mushroom Information Sheet is required to be in the possession of anyone collecting morel mushrooms for personal use from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Contact ranger district offices for more information.  The maps below in Maps section show potential personal use mushroom harvest areas. The map shows the general areas of past fires where mushrooms may or may not be growing. It is not intended for navigation purposes. A forest or district map is recommended. Roads may be opening and closing throughout the mushroom season so please check the alerts and closures list before heading out into the woods.

FREE Incidental Use Mushroom Information Sheet

Información GRATUITA sobre el uso personal de las setas

The free Incidental Personal Use Information sheet is REQUIRED to be in the possession of anyone collecting morel mushrooms for personal use from the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.

Información GRATUITA sobre el uso personal de las setas.

To protect sensitive fish habitat, do not walk through rivers, streams, or creeks to access harvesting areas.

To protect valuable cultural resources, do not remove or damage historical items or artifacts found in the national forest.

 

Northwest Forest Pass Required at Some Trailheads

A day use fee is required at many trailheads and day use sites. A valid pass must be displayed on the vehicle windshield when using a fee site. Passes cost $5 per day or $30 for an annual pass and are available at all national forest offices and some fee sites.

 

Safety

Driving Safety: Many forest roads are single-lane roads. Please travel slowly. Be prepared to encounter vehicles, animals or people around corners.

 

If you are collecting mushrooms for personal use in old fire scar areas there are some hazards to be aware of:

Walking: Tread cautiously; the fire may have burned roots creating unseen walking hazards.

Falling Trees: Trees burned by fire may fall at any time, with no warning; always look up for possible hazards.  THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD—BEWARE!

Due to flooding potential in burned areas, we recommend mushroom pickers monitor National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Service radio stations.  Monitor weather forecasts and be alert for flood watches and warnings. Be aware of the possibility of flooding from rains upstream of your location. Monitor local radio stations for public safety bulletins and flood information. Scan NOAA Weather Radio for real-time weather conditions; these broadcasts require a scanner or special radio receiver.

 

MUSHROOM ETIQUETTE

Due to the delicate life cycle of mushrooms there are a few things you can do to protect the species in your favorite areas. These few steps may help to sustain your mushroom picking pleasure into the future: 1) Pick only two-thirds of the mushrooms you find. Do not collect mushrooms from previously harvested areas; leave the rest for seed (spores) and food for wildlife. 2) Minimize the impacts to the actual fungus by not disturbing the ground habitat. This means do not use rakes, dogs, pigs or other methods to dig mushrooms. Use a knife to cut the mushroom to minimize the impact to the fungus. 

 

KNOW YOUR MUSHROOMS

Each year interest grows in harvesting wild mushrooms from National Forests. Proper identification and determination of whether a mushroom is edible is the responsibility of the picker. Many forest mushroom varieties are poisonous. There are many guide books available to assist with identification. Some forests offer field guides for sale. Your local library, county extension office, and local Mycological Society are good sources of information. Our word to the wise is:
WHEN IN DOUBT... LEAVE IT IN THE WOODS!

 

Other Agencies

Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not issue commercial mushroom harvest permits. Therefore, DNR lands and developed campgrounds are closed to commercial harvesters. Personal use harvest is allowed without a permit. ATV/ORV travel is allowed on open roads only. ATV/ORV travel off any road, behind gates, or on trails is strictly prohibited. In undeveloped and dispersed campsites, campfires are prohibited and camping is limited to 1 4 days. Garbage – Pack it in – Pack it out. For more information contact DNR at 509-925-8510. DNR managed lands are shown in light purple on mushroom harvesting maps.

Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) does not allow commercial mushroom harvesting or camping for commercial harvesters. For more information call 509-575-2740 or 509-754-4624. 

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office:  509-422-7200

Yakima County Sheriff's Office: 509-574-2500

Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office:  509-962-7525

Chelan County Sheriff’s Office:  509-667-6875

 

Who to Call—National Forest Contact Information

Chelan Ranger District, 428 W. Woodin Ave., Chelan, WA 98816 -- (509) 682-4900

Cle Elum Ranger District, 803 W. 2nd Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922 -- (509) 852-1100

Entiat Ranger District, 2108 Entiat Way, (mailing address P.O. Box 476), Entiat, WA 98822 -- (509) 784-4700

Methow Valley Ranger District, 24 West Chewuch Road, Winthrop, WA 98862 -- (509) 996-4000

Naches Ranger District, 10237 Hwy. 12, Naches, WA 98937 -- (509) 653-1401

Okanogan-Wenatchee N.F. Headquarters office, 215 Melody Lane, Wenatchee, WA 98801 -- (509) 664-9200

Wenatchee River Ranger District, 600 Sherbourne, Leavenworth, WA 98826 -- (509) 548-2550