Boulder Mushroom Calendar
Boulder sits in the High Plains and has a drier, rain-shadowed climate, with roughly 21.2 inches of annual rainfall. The ground warms and reaches early fruiting potential around April, though frost is still possible until about May 6. A relatively short mushroom season near Boulder is aided by spring snowmelt and summer rains. The first frosts around Oct 5 eventually close the main season, though hardy cool-season species hang on.
Best months
May, June, and September
Ground warms
~April
Frost-free
May 6 – Oct 5
Annual rain
21.2"
Species tracked
6
What Fruits When Near Boulder
JFMAMJJASONDMorelKing BoleteMatsutakeChanterelleOysterShaggy ManeChicken of the Woodsreg
Shading shows when each species typically fruits within about 10 miles, not abundance. Based on iNaturalist observation trends. reg = pooled from the surrounding area where local sightings were sparse.
The Shape of the Season
All species combined — local observations within about 10 miles, by month.
Weather Through the Year
Average daily high–low (°F)
Average monthly precipitation (inches)
The Forest Around Boulder
Dominant tree species within about 10 km — the hosts that shape which mushrooms grow here.
- Ponderosa Pine39.5%
- Douglas-fir23.3%
- Lodgepole Pine16.9%
- Colorado Pinyon5.1%
- Rocky Mountain Juniper4.8%
Track the Season as It Happens
This calendar shows typical timing. A free Salish Mushrooms account adds live environmental layers — soil moisture, soil temperature, snow cover, and recent precipitation — on the Forayz map.
Species to Know Near Boulder
Common Questions
When is mushroom season in Boulder?
Mushroom season near Boulder comes in two waves: a spring window after snowmelt and a larger fall window with the first soaking rains. The strongest months in the local observation record are May, June, and September.
When do morels fruit near Boulder?
Morel reports near Boulder peak in May. Timing tracks soil temperature, so south-facing slopes and lower elevations start earlier and higher ground runs later.
What mushrooms grow near Boulder?
6 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Boulder, including Morel, King Bolete, Matsutake, Chanterelle, Oyster, Shaggy Mane. The calendar above shows when each one typically fruits.
Want live conditions instead of climatology? The Forayz map layers soil moisture, soil temperature, snow cover, and recent burns over the same area.