Cle Elum Mushroom Calendar

Cle Elum sits in the North Cascades and a drier, rain-shadowed climate — about 24.7 inches of rain a year, most of it falling in the cool months from fall into spring. The ground warms and reaches early fruiting potential around April, by which point the average last frost (May 13) has usually passed. Through summer, localized storms can set off scattered fruitings, but widespread flushes are rare until more consistent rain returns in October. Winter then shuts the season down hard and early.

Best months May, June, and October
Ground warms ~April
Frost-free May 13 – Sep 25
Annual rain 24.7"
Driest July through September
Species tracked 5

What Fruits When Near Cle Elum

JFMAMJJASONDMorelSpring KingKing BoleteThe PrinceShaggy Mane

Shading shows when each species typically fruits within about 10 miles, not abundance. Based on iNaturalist observation trends.

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 Cle Elum

Dominant tree species within about 10 km — the hosts that shape which mushrooms grow here.

  • Douglas-fir37.4%
  • Western Hemlock22%
  • Ponderosa Pine19.8%
  • Grand Fir19.2%
  • Lodgepole Pine1.6%

Species to Know Near Cle Elum

Shaggy Mane Shaggy Mane Peaks in October Photo: Jeremy Collison (CC BY-NC) King Bolete King Bolete Peaks in May Morel Morel Peaks in May

Common Questions

When is mushroom season in Cle Elum?

Near Cle Elum, the season skews toward spring. The strongest months in the local observation record are May, June, and October.

When do morels fruit near Cle Elum?

Morel reports near Cle Elum 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 Cle Elum?

5 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Cle Elum, including Morel, Spring King, King Bolete, The Prince, 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.

Nearby Calendars in Washington

Climate normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020). Season-onset timing is an air-temperature proxy, not a soil reading.