In many areas, the shift into autumn means that the height of mushroom season has arrived. Cooler temperatures and rain bring out some of the tastiest fungi to forage. Foraging for mushrooms has a wide range of health benefits that surpass just the functional benefits of the mushrooms themselves. This pastime is more than a hunt for wild food; it’s a pilgrimage to the small, unnoticed corners of the world, where the boundary between the seen and unseen blurs. It’s an invitation to slow down, to trade the rush of daily life for the patient pace of the forest, where every step becomes a conversation with the earth.

As you wander beneath the fading light of fall, the smell of moss and conifer mingling in the cool air, you begin to realize that the forest is more than a place; it’s a teacher. It asks you to pay attention and shares with you the joy of noticing the small and miraculous details of life that are often overlooked. Whether you’re a seasoned forager or someone curious to get started, there are immediate benefits of venturing out into the wild. Foraging requires getting out into nature, involving mild to moderate physical activity and a state of mindful observation while searching for fungi—all factors important to cultivating a state of well-being in the body and mind. Connecting with nature throughout the various seasons helps keep our bodies in tune with the earth's rhythms and the change into autumn is a great time to start.

Returning to the woods every season cultivates a deeper relationship with the land that has provided food and medicine throughout history. Nature is healing, a sanctuary from the busyness of modern life. Walking through the woods or sitting by a stream can rekindle a deeper sense of wonder and gratitude. The variety of colors, textures, and sounds of the natural world engage our senses in a way that few other environments can. Add the fun and goal of finding mushrooms, and it becomes an engaging multi-sensory activity.

Cooking with Fall Mushrooms

Depending on your location, wild mushrooms to forage in the fall can include edibles like matsutake, oyster, chanterelles, hedgehog mushrooms, chicken of the woods, porcini, and lobster mushrooms. With their earthy, umami-rich taste and unique textures, these fungi can be easily incorporated to elevate your favorite nourishing fall dishes like soups, stews, broths, and rich pasta and complement autumn staples like squash root vegetables and hearty grains. Roast them with fresh herbs and a drizzle of olive oil for a delicious side dish. Their versatility and robust flavor make them a perfect ingredient for cozy, seasonal cooking that celebrates the bounty of the harvest. Those who reside on the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains may be able to find the delicious and functional mushroom called maitake or hen of the woods, a favorite fall mushroom.

Support Your Health

While all mushrooms have beneficial properties, functional mushrooms that can be found during this time of year include turkey tail, reishi, and lion’s mane. These immune-boosting and health-supporting fungi can be infused in teas and broths to utilize their beneficial compounds. To extract these compounds, simmer the mushroom for 35-40 minutes or longer before straining and consuming or adding to a culinary dish. Try adding some freshly foraged turkey tail when simmering soups and stews, removing it right before serving, much like a culinary bay leaf.  

Know Your Fungi

When foraging for mushrooms, its crucial to know proper identification, especially if you plan on eating what you find. Never consume a mushroom that you are one hundred percent certain of identifying. However, don’t let this stop you from exploring the woods and connecting with nature. Observing the fungi throughout the season is a great way to familiarize yourself with different species. Learning to identify mushroom species can be intimidating, so a local teacher can be a valuable resource, along with a foraging guide such as the newly released Mushrooms of Cascadia: A Comprehensive Guide to Fungi of the Pacific Northwest by Noah Siegel and Christian Schwarz. For other resources, be sure to check out the iNaturalist app to share your finds and connect with local experts. Join your local mycological society to learn more about foraging wild mushrooms in your area with experts.

Environmental Impacts

The outdoors is a refuge from our busy daily lives, but inexperienced hunters can cause damage to the environment or themselves. Respect the natural habitat by staying on established trails and avoiding ecologically sensitive areas. Fungi play a vital role in their ecosystem by breaking down organic matter and supporting plant health. Foraging responsibly helps preserve these delicate environments, ensuring that both people and nature can continue to enjoy the benefits of wild mushrooms for generations to come.

Gather your basket and head into the woods this season for all the health benefits of nature. There, beneath the fallen leaves and beside the winding paths, you might just find what you didn’t know you were searching for—a quiet wonder, a fleeting connection, a moment of stillness in a world that often feels too fast. Foraging isn’t just about finding mushrooms; it’s about rediscovering the simple, profound truth that beauty and nourishment are all around us, waiting to be found.