Guided Mushroom Tours — Darrington Foraging the Sauk and Suiattle valleys off the Mountain Loop Highway
Darrington sits where the Sauk and the Suiattle rivers converge at the north end of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, with the Mountain Loop Highway running through the eastern edge of town into wonderful valley terrain. Even the drive in can be a treat.
It is also the closest tour area for anyone coming from Everett, Mount Vernon, or Bellingham, and about an hour and a half from Seattle up I-5 and SR-530.
Upcoming Dates
No dates are on the calendar right now.
Tour dates go up through the season as conditions come together. Tell me roughly when you'd like to get out and I'll let you know when this area has dates — or check the other tour areas below.
Request a DateSee every upcoming tour, class and event on the full calendar →
What the Day Looks Like
Reading the Habitat
Why we stop where we stop: the trees, elevation and moisture that make a patch worth walking into, and the signs on the ground that back it up.
Hands-On Identification
We work through every find in the field. You'll learn which features matter, which don't, and how to get from "some mushroom" to a confident name.
Taking Some Home
Bring a basket or breathable bag. Whatever you pick is yours to keep, whether that's dinner or a single specimen to study, and I'll cover how to clean, store and cook it.
Staying Safe
The poisonous species to know on sight, and the edible mushrooms they can be mistaken for.
What We Find Is Up to the Forest
Mushroom foraging is unpredictable, and that's just as true with a guide. Some tours come home with enough for dinner. Some find a handful. Some don't turn up any of the choice edibles at all. We're often walking an area for the first time that season, and I don't know what conditions will be like until we get there.
The places I can take a group have their limits, too. They need to be on public land, a reasonable drive away, and easy enough walking for a mixed group. That means other foragers can reach them as well, and sometimes a good patch is picked before we arrive.
What doesn't depend on the day is what you learn: how to read the forest, how to identify what we do find, and how to go looking on your own afterwards.
About This Area
The valley floors here are low and the mountains come up fast, so a short drive can move you through several forest types in a morning — Douglas-fir and western hemlock down along the rivers, western redcedar in the wetter draws, Pacific silver fir once you gain some elevation. That range is the reason this area rewards knowing what to look for rather than just where to park.
Because there is so much ground and so little pressure on it, Darrington tours tend to cover more distance between stops than the others. Come prepared for a bit more walking and a bit more driving on forest roads — it is worth it.
What Guests Say
From guests at my in-person mushroom class, which is listed on Airbnb.
“Jeremy's workshop was fantastic! We walked away feeling confident being able to pick out chanterelles and porcini.” Sarah, Seattle WA · October 2024
“Jeremy is so personable and knowledgeable. You can tell he has a passion for mushrooms!” Jenelle, Seattle WA · June 2024
“He was so informative and answered all of our wide ranging questions. Highly recommend!” Katheryn, Glen Ellyn IL · March 2024
Request a Date or Get Notified
Nothing on the calendar that works for you? Tell me roughly when you'd like to get out, and I'll let you know as soon as this area has dates. If you have a group, ask about scheduling a date around you.
Gift certificates are available, and private tours can be arranged.
Before You Go
Meetup: The exact meetup point is sent to registered guests 3 days before the tour. The general area is Darrington, WA.
Cancellations: Cancel at least 3 days before the tour for a full refund. That's when the exact meeting location goes out, so bookings can't be refunded after that point.
Roads: Forest service roads are passable in low-clearance vehicles, but expect potholes and the occasional rock — just pick your line carefully.
Parking: No Northwest Forest Pass needed. We park at spots that don’t require one, so there’s nothing to buy before this tour.
Restrooms: There will not be a public toilet once we’re in the forest. Bring some toilet paper and a plastic bag to pack it out.
Weather: Tours run rain or shine in typical Pacific Northwest conditions. If unsafe weather is forecast we reschedule or refund in full.
Dogs: Sorry, no dogs on tours in the national forest.
Bring: Shoes for off-trail walking, weather-appropriate clothing, a charged phone with offline maps, a basket or breathable bag, and water and snacks. A small folding knife and a hiking pole are nice to have.
Age & fitness: Suitable for teens and adults comfortable with off-trail walking. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Other Tour Areas
Darrington a long drive for you? I guide in other parts of the Cascades too, each with its own timing.
Or see every upcoming tour date across all the areas in one list.
Keep going after the tour
Forayz maps burn perimeters, soil moisture, snow cover and tree species across the Pacific Northwest. Use it to turn what you learned about habitat on the tour into places to check on your own.