Nevada City Mushroom Calendar

Nevada City sits in the Sierra Nevada and has one of the wetter climates in the region — about 62.3 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 March, though frost is still possible until about Apr 14. Summer dries out — June through September typically see under an inch of rain — and fruiting goes quiet until the rains return in October, kicking off the year's main flush. The first frosts around Nov 20 eventually close the main season, though hardy cool-season species hang on.

Best months January, November, and December
Ground warms ~March
Frost-free Apr 14 – Nov 20
Annual rain 62.3"
Driest June through September
Species tracked 10

What Fruits When Near Nevada City

JFMAMJJASONDMorelKing BoleteMatsutakeChanterelleOysterLion's Mane / Bear's HeadBlewitShaggy ManeBlack TrumpetregCandy CapChicken of the Woods

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 Nevada City

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

  • Ponderosa Pine32%
  • Douglas-fir21.5%
  • California Black Oak17.3%
  • Tanoak9.6%
  • White Fir6.6%

Species to Know Near Nevada City

Blewit Blewit Peaks in January Photo: Jeremy Collison (CC BY-NC)

Common Questions

When is mushroom season in Nevada City?

Near Nevada City, mushroom season runs through the wet winter: the first soaking fall storms open it and it peaks in the cool, rainy months. The strongest months in the local observation record are January, November, and December.

When do morels fruit near Nevada City?

Morel reports near Nevada City peak in April. Timing tracks soil temperature, so south-facing slopes and lower elevations start earlier and higher ground runs later.

What mushrooms grow near Nevada City?

10 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Nevada City, including Morel, King Bolete, Matsutake, Chanterelle, Oyster, Lion's Mane / Bear's Head, Blewit, 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 Northern California

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