This website can help you, but a single source can never safely answer this question for you alone. I recommend you check several sources, collect and examine the specimen several times, and get a second opinion before you eat a mushroom for the first time.

See how I Eat a Mushroom for the First Time, every time.

No. I'm an enthusiast who has been finding and eating mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest for 20 years, who has also made a successful career making complex information easy to understand.

PNW Fungi Forager my attempt to simplify foraging for beginners.

The mission of this website is to help you find and identify choice edible mushrooms in Washington and Oregon. To make that information easy to navigate I only describe the common poisonous mushrooms, edible mushrooms, and mushrooms that look like edible mushrooms.

Most mushrooms are neither edible nor poisonous, and many edible mushrooms are uncommon in our area or not considered 'choice'.

There are many excellent books and websites that attempt to cover all mushrooms, my favorites can be found on the Resources Page.

The Pacific Northwest (PNW) is a lush, forest-filled region in the northwestern corner of North America, known for its towering evergreens, rainy weather, and incredible wild mushrooms. While definitions can vary a little, here’s what’s usually included:

📍 States & Provinces in the PNW

• United States:

  • Washington State (the rainy green one, not D.C.!)

  • Oregon State

• Canada:

  • British Columbia (especially coastal B.C. and Vancouver Island)​​

🗺️ Major Cities

• Seattle, WA – The heart of the tech-meets-forest vibe

• Portland, OR – Known for eco-conscious culture & food scene

• Eugene, OR – A university town surrounded by green

• Olympia, WA – Washington’s capital and gateway to wild lands

• Vancouver, BC – A coastal city nestled between ocean and mountains

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⛰️ Geographic Highlights

• Cascade Range – A dramatic mountain range inc. Mt Baker, Mt. Rainier, and Mt. St. Helen's

• Olympic Peninsula – Home to temperate rainforests, Olympic Mountains, and wild coasts in Washington

• Columbia River Gorge – A massive river canyon between WA and OR

• San Juan Islands – A misty maze of forested islands off the coast of Washington

• Puget Sound – A maze of water and forested islands in WA