2024 Burn Morel Map

View the PNW Burn Map


Morel Season in Oregon and Washington

When do morels fruit in Oregon and Washington?

Morels fruit in spring, starting in southern regions and at lower elevations. As temperatures rise, fruiting progresses northward and to higher elevations. Below is a chart illustrating when morels are typically found in various Pacific Northwest (PNW) regions:

Morel Fruiting Calendar

Morel Recipes

Discover Morel Recipes
Morel Risotto


Key Morel Features

Honeycomb Pockets

Morel Image 1
Morel Image 2

Cap Fused to Stem

Morchella americana
(c) Alan Rockefeller

Hollow

Hollow Morels

Not True Morels

Gyromitra esculenta

Gyromitra lacks the deep honeycomb texture of true morels, featuring smooth, brain-like folds.
Gyromitra esculenta
Learn more about Gyromitra esculenta

Verpa

Verpa mushrooms have caps sitting atop the stem rather than being fused. The stem often contains a cottony pith that may dry out over time.
Verpa Cross-section
Verpa


True Morels

The Naturals

Morchella brunnea
Grows with hardwoods, less brittle stem.

Morchella norvegiensis
Grows with conifers, brittle stem.

The Blondes

Rounded caps and lighter coloration.

  • Morchella americana
    Found with cottonwoods or ornamental hardwoods.
  • Morchella prava
    Irregular pits, light ridges, grows in sandy soils near rivers.

Burn Morels

Burn morels typically appear 1–2 years after a forest fire.

Morchella tomentosa

Grey to black, fine hairs on ridges, thick stem walls.

Morchella eximia / exuberans / sextelata

Lighter when young, ridges darken with age.


Urban Morels

Some morels adapt to urban environments, often appearing in wood chips or near ornamental trees.

Morchella importuna

Classic wood-chip morel.

Morchella rufobrunnea

Saprotrophic, found in disturbed areas.


Safety Tips While Foraging

  • Ensure your phone is fully charged and in low-power mode.
  • Use GPS and navigation tools effectively.
  • Notify someone of your location and expected return time.
  • Avoid leaving your phone on the ground.

Additional Resources

Morel Seasonality on iNaturalist
PNW Morels & False Morels Toxicity Information