Salt Lake City Mushroom Calendar
Salt Lake City sits in the Central Basin and Range and has a drier, rain-shadowed climate — about 17.7 inches of rain a year. The ground warms and reaches early fruiting potential around March, by which point the average last frost (Mar 31) 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 8 eventually close the main season, though hardy cool-season species hang on.
Best months
August, September, and October
Ground warms
~March
Frost-free
Mar 31 – Nov 8
Annual rain
17.7"
Driest
July and August
Species tracked
6
What Fruits When Near Salt Lake City
JFMAMJJASONDMorelKing BoleteChanterelleregOysterLion's Mane / Bear's HeadBlewitThe 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 Salt Lake City
Dominant tree species within about 10 km — the hosts that shape which mushrooms grow here.
- Gambel Oak42.4%
- Douglas-fir29.5%
- White Fir23.6%
- Narrowleaf Cottonwood4.5%
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 Salt Lake City
Common Questions
When is mushroom season in Salt Lake City?
Near Salt Lake City, most mushroom activity arrives with the fall rains. The strongest months in the local observation record are August, September, and October.
When do morels fruit near Salt Lake City?
Morel reports near Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City?
6 species show up in the observation record within about 10 miles of Salt Lake City, including Morel, King Bolete, 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.