Port Angeles Mushroom Calendar

Port Angeles sits in the Puget Lowland and a moderately damp climate — about 26.5 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 (Mar 12) has usually passed. Summer dries out — July and August typically see under an inch of rain — and fruiting goes quiet until the rains return in September, kicking off the year's main flush. The first frosts around Nov 19 eventually close the main season, though hardy cool-season species hang on.

Best months September, October, and November
Ground warms ~April
Frost-free Mar 12 – Nov 19
Annual rain 26.5"
Driest July and August
Species tracked 11

What Fruits When Near Port Angeles

JFMAMJJASONDMorelKing BoleteMatsutakeChanterelleHedgehogOysterLobsterBear's HeadBlewitThe 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 Port Angeles

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

  • Western Hemlock50.4%
  • Douglas-fir28.3%
  • Red Alder12.2%
  • Bigleaf Maple5.9%
  • Grand Fir3.2%

Species to Know Near Port Angeles

Shaggy Mane Shaggy Mane Peaks in October Photo: Jeremy Collison (CC BY-NC) Chanterelle Chanterelle Peaks in October Photo: Jeremy Collison (CC BY-NC) Lobster Lobster Peaks in October Photo: Drew Henderson, Mushroom Observer (CC BY-SA)

Common Questions

When is mushroom season in Port Angeles?

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

When do morels fruit near Port Angeles?

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

What mushrooms grow near Port Angeles?

11 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Port Angeles, including Morel, King Bolete, Matsutake, Chanterelle, Hedgehog, Oyster, Lobster, Bear's Head. 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.