Darrington Mushroom Calendar

Darrington sits in the North Cascades and one of the wetter corners of the region, with roughly 83.1 inches of annual rainfall, 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 (Apr 16) has usually passed. Rain barely lets up even at the height of summer, so something is usually fruiting, though the heaviest push still comes with the fall rains. The first frosts around Oct 23 eventually close the main season, though hardy cool-season species hang on.

Best months May, September, and October
Ground warms ~April
Frost-free Apr 16 – Oct 23
Annual rain 83.1"
Species tracked 7

What Fruits When Near Darrington

JFMAMJJASONDMorelKing BoleteMatsutakeregChanterelleHedgehogregOysterLobsterBear's HeadThe PrinceregShaggy Mane

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.

Learn It in Person Near Darrington

Prefer to be out in the woods? Guided tours around Darrington run through the season — next one Sat, Oct 10.

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 Darrington

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

  • Douglas-fir36%
  • Western Hemlock33.9%
  • Western Redcedar14.7%
  • Red Alder9.5%
  • Bigleaf Maple5.3%

Species to Know Near Darrington

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

Common Questions

When is mushroom season in Darrington?

Near Darrington, most mushroom activity arrives with the fall rains. The strongest months in the local observation record are May, September, and October.

When do morels fruit near Darrington?

Morel reports near Darrington 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 Darrington?

7 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Darrington, including Morel, King Bolete, Chanterelle, Oyster, Lobster, Bear's Head, 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.