Missoula Mushroom Calendar
Missoula sits in the Middle Rockies and has a drier, rain-shadowed climate — about 17.4 inches of rain a year. The ground warms and reaches early fruiting potential around May, by which point the average last frost (May 10) has usually passed. Summer dries out — July typically sees under an inch of rain — and fruiting goes quiet until the rains return in August, kicking off the year's main flush. Winter then shuts the season down hard and early.
Best months
May, June, and September
Ground warms
~May
Frost-free
May 10 – Oct 1
Annual rain
17.4"
Driest
July
Species tracked
5
What Fruits When Near Missoula
JFMAMJJASONDMorelKing BoleteChanterelleregOysterLobsterregLion's Mane / Bear's HeadThe PrinceregShaggy 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 Missoula
Dominant tree species within about 10 km — the hosts that shape which mushrooms grow here.
- Douglas-fir48.9%
- Ponderosa Pine26.4%
- Western Larch11.5%
- Lodgepole Pine10.2%
- Engelmann Spruce3%
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 Missoula
Common Questions
When is mushroom season in Missoula?
Mushroom season near Missoula 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 Missoula?
Morel reports near Missoula 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 Missoula?
5 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Missoula, including Morel, King Bolete, Oyster, Lion's Mane / 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.