The Rare & Uncommon Mushrooms of Mount Shasta

Collecting specimens for DNA and further study. October 2025

Throughout my years hunting and studying the mushrooms of the Mount Shasta region, the 2025-26 Fall season has, without a doubt, been the most diverse and prolific mushroom season I've ever seen here. Early, heavy rains and warm Fall temperatures led to "super bloom" conditions, bringing forth the expected species tenfold. But also, amongst the commons, were the uncommon, the rare, and even endangered species.

With Mount Shasta 's scanty snowpack and March heatwave, things were appearing to be a stark contrast for our Spring mushroom season, but seemingly out of nowhere the spell was broken, the heavy rains returned, the temps stabilized and we were again in the midst of a great Spring season - and not just the gourmet Morels and Boletes, but a number of uncommon and rare species have been observed already. This is the kind of diversity we’re seeing in the forest right now… not just edibles, but rare and unique species most people walk right past. It's the gourmet species that keep my basket full, but it's the curveballs and the oddballs - the unexpected twists and turns of the Mount Shasta Weather and the accompanying fungi that keep my curiosity brimming, and my eyes carefully scanning the forest floor.

Here are some of the uncommon, rare, and even endangered species that have been observed this Fall and current Spring season.

Hygrophorus calophyllus observed near Lake Siskiyou

A globally endangered species that is restricted to complex old growth conifer habitat. It has beautifully distinct waxy, salmon-colored gills. There are 17 observations of this species on iNaturalist, 6 of them in North America, and 1 of them here in Mount Shasta. Collected by a friend on one of our mushroom forays with the Mount Shasta Mycological Society. Check out the observations of this one on iNaturalist.

Mythicomyces corneipes observed in the Klammath National Forest

This observation was along the edges of a wet, high mountain meadow In the Klamath National Forest. An uncommon to rare species that was once placed in the Psilocybe genus, but its magic is in its scarcity, beauty, and the environments where it resides.

Gastroboletus - perhaps G. turbinatus var. flammeus (awaiting DNA results). Observed near Red Fir Flat

Mount Shasta hosts a number of uncommon to rare gastroboletes, many of which show dramatic bruising, as seen here in cross-section. I typically find these odd mushrooms with Red Fir and Mountain Hemlock (so, up high). These species are interesting because they appear to have taken a detour in their development where their spore-bearing surface (pores, in this case) remain enclosed (sequestrate) or open intermediately (secotioid), appearing distorted and malformed. Many distantly related groups of mushrooms have taken on these forms, and it is believed to be an evolutionary adaptation to drier, more hostile conditions. boletes that live this way barely break the surface of the soil and are found mostly buried, evident by a small bump or crack in the ground. By going subterranean, moisture is conserved and spore-bearing surfaces are better protected. Other boletes that display these adaptations include Boletus subalpinus AKA "Gasteroid Porcini," Gastroboletus vividus, and Gastroboletus amyloideus.

Hedgehog Mushroom (Hydnum washingtonianum) observed in the Klamath National Forest

Commonly called Hedgehogs, there are a number of species that are impossible to distinguish in the field (many remain unnamed) but all are edible and do not share any toxic lookalikes, making them a great mushroom for beginners. These are of my favorite groups to hunt - particularly along the coast where they earn the name "hogs" as they can become quite large.

You can expect to see these on the coast, but they are rather uncommon in the Mount Shasta region. The heavy Fall rains brought about some unexpected, but welcomed flushes of these fleshy, toothed fungi.

To learn more about the many species that have been sequenced, check out Danny Miller's DNA Discoveries here.

Calonarius olympianus (with UV reaction on gills and cap margin). Observed in the Klamath National Forest.

This gorgeous member of the Cortinarius family (Webcaps) is more common in Northern Cascadia, but rare in the Shasta-Trinity and Klamath National Forest. Its lilac-colored cap was an unexpected surprise when uncovering this one from the duff. Other identifying features include it viscid cap that flouresces light blue, bulbous stem base, and pinkish KOH reaction on the cap. You can see more observations of this neat mushroom on iNaturalist here.

Calocybe onychina observed in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Mccloud

I first encountered this species while attending College of the Siskiyous where I would often walk the "Bear Trail" in search of cool mushrooms. This one fits the bill with its contrasting purple cap and bright yellow gills. It is uncommon to rare, but certain years - like this one - it can seem rather common. Tricholomopsis rutilans (Plums and Custard) is similar looking, but grows on wood and has lighter, creamy gills. There are at least two species in California - 'onychina-CA02' and 'onychina-PNW02'. More information and observations can be seen here.

Psathyrella oregonensis observed in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near McCloud

This rare species is chunky for a Psathyrella (AKA "Brittlestems") This observation was made this Spring near McCloud along the edge of a wet meadow. There are only about 5 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.

"Brittlestems" are a genus of mushrooms known for their fragile nature and are commonly misidentified as Psilocybe by eager newbies looking for an altered experience. while both Psathyrella and Psilocybe have dark purplish brown to purplish black spores, the latter is much more fragile, lacks blue bruising, and does not have a pellicle --removable layer of skin -- on the cap. Psathyrellas are non-toxic but too insubstantial and fragile to warrant collecting for the table.

Leptonia cyanea var. occidentalis observed in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near McCloud

Leptonia is often considered a subgenus of Entoloma, but that doesn't matter if you're just into finding cool mushrooms to look at or photograph. I can count the number of times I've observed this species near Mount Shasta on one hand. Its bluish-purple tones are an uncommon feature in mushrooms, so if you find this one be sure to enjoy its beauty and hopefully capture a cool shot. I observed this species twice in the amazing Fall season of 2025-26. This particular specimen was found by a participant on a mushroom tour. See more observations on iNaturalist.

Cantharocybe gruberi observed in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest near McCloud

This species flew under my radar until recently. And like many uncommon or rare species of the Shasta region - this season is bringing them out. The bright yellow tone is eye-catching and hard to miss, and those waxy, relatively wide-spaced gills are a Hallmark to the waxycap family (Hygrophoraceae) to which it belongs. This was a good year for gruberi and I stumbled upon the biggest patch I've ever seen -- about 20 individuals scattered in one spot. As the caps dry out, they resemble a warty puffball until unearthing one to see the gills. This species is considered edible and I tried it for my first time this season, simply dry sautéed with some salt and pepper in some butter. I was pleased with its texture and nutty umami flavor.

Dendrocollybia sp. (Perhaps a variant of D. racemosa. awaiting DNA results) Observed in the Klamath National Forest.

Some of the coolest and rarest mushrooms, Dendrocollybia are mycoparasites, meaning they parasitize other mushrooms. In this case, I found this on the rotting remains of either a Lactarius or Russula species. The little branchlets on the stem are where asexual spores are produced. If you want to find these species, just start paying more attention to rotting specimens of Russula and Lactarius in the Fall.

Pink Bubblegum Fungus (Aphroditeola olida) observed in the Shasta-Trinity national Forest near McCloud.

The genus name is a reference to the Greek goddess, while the common name "Pink Bubblegum fungus" refers to the amazing pink bubblegum / candy odor of this rare and near threatened species. I've observed it in both the Fall and Spring near McCloud.

It is important to consider that some mushrooms are genuinely rare, while others are just rarely observed. Many fungi fruit only under specific combinations of rainfall, temperature, snowpack, host-tree associations, and forest age. Species may go unseen for years before conditions align for fruiting abundantly -- like we saw with Cantharocybe gruberi this year. Other mycologists reported seeing mushrooms this year that hadn't been observed for many years. In contrast, our snowbank species were minimal due to lack of substantial snowpack that would otherwise support sustained fruiting. Since mushrooms are only the temporary reproductive structures of the much larger, underground network of mycelium, the presence of a mushroom does not necessarily reflect the abundance of the organism itself. The mycelium has been there all along, waiting for the right conditions to send up mushrooms. People sometimes wonder if we should be collecting rare species. Does it cause them harm they wonder. Most mycologists agree that loss of habitat and environmental change is the greatest threat to species, not collecting a few for study. Collecting a small number of specimens for identification, photography, microscopy, DNA analysis, or herbarium preservation can provide valuable information to help steer conservation and land stewardship.

This is a very small example of the rare and uncommon mushrooms you may encounter in the Mount Shasta region. With literally millions of acres of habitat, microclimates, elevation zones, and shifting weather patterns, the potential for discovery is all around us. I can't think of a better time and place to be into mushrooms than here in the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath, and Modoc National Forests.