Commercial and Personal Use Mushroom Harvest
Commercial Mushroom Harvesting Permits will be sold again this season for Schneider Springs, Cedar Creek, and Cub Creek 2 Fire areas.
Personal / Incidental Use mushroom picking is allowed anytime, see Personal Use information below.
We are in the process of updating the Commercial Mushroom Harvest Permit Information and Maps that were used in 2022. These updated products will likely be very similar to those used in 2022.
The 2022 general information and rules are available in English and will also be used in 2023 [2-page PDF]
Information and rules also available in these languages:
Spanish -- Lao -- Khmer -- Vietnamese -- Hmong -- Russian
Cedar Creek and Cub Creek Fire Areas Map [2021 fire]
Schneider Springs Fire Area Map [2021 fire]
The Schneider Springs Map has legends for both maps translated in all languages above.
Permits are required for all commercial mushroom gathering on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Individuals are required to have their mushroom permit in their possession at all times when gathering mushrooms.
Please contact the appropriate Ranger District for information and if commercial permits are available for sale.
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
Commercial Mushroom Permit fees are $30 for a 2-day permit, $80 for a 30-day permit or $100 per season.
Seasonal permits are valid May 1 through July 30, 2023.
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.
If you harvest over 5 gallons per day of any mushroom species or intend to sell them, you are required to have a Commercial Use Permit.
Información GRATUITA sobre el uso personal de las setas
Maps
Individuals with commercial mushroom harvesting permits will be able to harvest mushrooms only from areas listed on ranger district mushroom maps.
Cedar Creek and Cub Creek Fire Areas Map
Schneider Springs Fire Area Map
The Schneider Springs Map has legends translated in all languages above.
These maps will also be available in print form Methow Valley, Naches, Chelan and Cle Elum Ranger District offices in early May. You can download and view or print them. They are 22" wide maps but you can zoom in and print areas of map you want on a typical printer using the "Current View" and "Fit" options in Acrobat print menu options.
Note: It is best to save/download files to your computer or phone and open them with Acrobat, rather than viewing or opening them in your web browser.
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.
Camping
Designated camps are available for commercial mushroom harvesters planning to stay overnight on National Forest lands in the Methow Valley area. Commercial harvesters are required to use these designated camps in that area, which are shown on the Cedar Creek - Cub Creek Map above. There are no designated commercial picker campsites in Schneider Springs area. Commercial harvesters shall not camp within 200 feet of streams, lakes, riparian areas and other wet areas such as wetlands and meadows (unless the location is designated or flagged for harvester use), at trailheads, or trailhead parking areas, or in other high use recreation or special use areas. This permit allows the permittee to camp in designated areas only.
Garbage Removal
All garbage must be removed from National Forest lands for proper disposal unless a commercial harvester is camping in a designated camping site where a garbage disposal repository is provided.
Buying & Selling or drying mushrooms is not allowed anywhere on National Forest lands.
Closures
Areas closed to commercial mushroom picking include Wilderness Areas, Research Natural Areas, administrative sites, botanical areas, scenic corridors, developed recreation sites, campgrounds and private property.
Road closures will be in effect within some commercial mushroom harvesting areas. Road closures will remain in place for areas where hazards exist and to protect soft roadbeds until they dry out.
Motorized Off-Route Travel is not allowed within burned areas.
Motorized equipment, including motorcycles, is permitted only on existing roads open to the public. All motorized equipment must be street legal.
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.
Campfires
Campfire restrictions may be in effect. See Current Campfire Restrictions. If fires are allowed:
- Keep camp or warming fires small
- Build camp or warming fires several feet from overhanging branches, steep slopes, dry grass, logs, rotten stumps, etc. Never leave a camp or warming fire unattended
- Keep plenty of water handy and have a shovel for throwing dirt on the fire if it gets out of control
- Drown and stir the fire with water until all embers and coals are cool-to-the-touch
- Keep vehicles off dry grass—heat from exhaust systems can ignite fires
Safety
Driving Safety: Many forest roads are single-lane roads. Please travel slowly. Be prepared to encounter vehicles, animals or people around corners.
Post Fire Hazards:
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 commercial 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. 3) To maintain the integrity of Late Successional Reserves as outlined in the Northwest Forest Plan, no commercial harvesting of mushrooms will be allowed in any Late Successional Reserve.
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!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Who needs a commercial permit to pick?
- Anyone who plans to pick more than 5 gallons a day or anyone who intends to sell harvested mushrooms.
Where can I pick mushrooms?
- Once a permit has been purchased, mushrooms may be harvested anywhere in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest unless otherwise restricted (see guide and permit). Commercial mushroom picking is prohibited within National Forest Wilderness areas, Late Successional Reserves, and Research Natural Areas. Each District will have specific information and restrictions.
I bought a permit then decided not to pick. Can I get my money back?
- No. Sorry, permit fees are non-refundable.
Emergency Services
911 is the local emergency services phone number. Hospitals are located in Yakima, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Chelan, Omak and Brewster.
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 camp- ing for commercial harvesters. For more information call 509-575-2740 or 509-754-4624. WDFW managed lands are shown in dark purple on mushroom harvesting maps.
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