Mushroom ID Hikes During the Festival
What You Can Expect When You Sign Up For An ID Hike:
Regional experts, along with knowledgeable members of the Wild Rivers Mushroom Club, will be leading mushroom ID hikes both days.
There are currently eight hikes scheduled, but groups will be kept small so that everyone will have a chance to learn, and a small fee will be charged for each hike. Time frames will vary, with most hikes lasting about 1 to 2 hours. We will ask each person going on the hike to sign a liability waiver before we enter the woods (or dunes).
One should dress for the weather - the coast is often drizzly or rainy in November. Anticipate getting wet: wear sturdy, water-resistant shoes, bring rain gear, perhaps dress in layers.
The hikes will highlight different habitat here on the coast, including a dunes hike, a forest hike, an "urban" hike, a coastal hike, and more. When you sign up for a hike, you will get directions to the location and/or will meet at the festival in order to carpool to the site. Club members will be on hand to help get you situated!
Please note: We are offering these hikes for the purpose of identifying the diversity of fungi in our region. We cannot allow any HARVESTING during these hikes. They are mostly being held on state parks land anyway, where harvesting is forbidden. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation!
Tickets for the Hikes can only be purchased at the festival...
...so, if you're hoping to go on a hike, be sure to get signed up at the door before you do anything else!*
The cost for each hike will vary, with prices ranging from $5 to $10 each, depending on who's leading the hike and how long it will be.
For more information, please reach out using our contact form (at the bottom of the main page).
*Special Note: if you want to join the 10:00 am Sunday Tolowa Dunes hike, be sure to sign up at the festival ON SATURDAY. However, if you want to go on the second Tolowa Dunes hike at 11:30 am, you'll have time to sign up on Sunday morning.
Hikes on Saturday
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Led by Mike Potts, fungi enthusiast and photographer from the Illinois Valley
Meet at the Chetco Activity Center (550 Chetco Lane) - downstairs in the lounge area - at 10:45. The group will leave promptly at 11:00 and will carpool to the location.
GROUP LIMITED TO 12 PEOPLE
11:15 am - 1:15 pm
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Led by Wild Rivers Mushroom Club members Yerma and Terry
Meet at the Chetco Activity Center (550 Chetco Lane) - downstairs in the lounge area - at 11:00. The group will leave promptly at 11:15 and will carpool to the location.
GROUP LIMITED TO 20 PEOPLE
11:45 am - 1:45 pm
Led by Jon Sommer, visiting mycologist from Colorado Mycological Society
Meet at the Chetco Activity Center (550 Chetco Lane) - downstairs in the lounge area - at 11:30. The group will leave promptly at 11:45 and will carpool to the location.
GROUP LIMITED TO 12 PEOPLE
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
Led by Micha Gross, permaculturist and owner of Myrtle Glen Farm
Meet at the Chetco Activity Center (550 Chetco Lane) - downstairs in the lounge area - at 12:15. The group will leave promptly at 12:30 and will carpool to the location.
GROUP LIMITED TO 12 PEOPLE
Hikes on Sunday
First hike: 10:00 am Second hike 11:30am
Two hikes led by Anna Moore, amateur mycologist, specializing in mushrooms of the dunes
Each hike starts at the Information Center at Tolowa Dunes State Park (Crescent City, CA - maps will be available at the festival). The first group will meet at 10:00 am. The second group will meet at 11:30 am. Each group will hike an approximately one-mile loop, returning to the parking area within about one hour.
GROUP LIMITS: 15 PEOPLE EACH
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Led by Noah Siegel, mycologist; author of "Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast"
Meet at the Chetco Activity Center (550 Chetco Lane) - downstairs in the lounge area - at 10:45. The group will leave promptly at 11:00 and will carpool to the location.
GROUP LIMITED TO 20 PEOPLE
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Led by Mike Potts, fungi enthusiast and photographer from the Illinois Valley
Meet at the Chetco Activity Center (550 Chetco Lane) - downstairs in the lounge area - at 11:45. The group will leave promptly at 12:00 and will carpool to the location.
GROUP LIMITED TO 12 PEOPLE