Colorado Mushroom Hunting Resources

Whether you’re just starting your journey into mushroom foraging or you’re a seasoned mycophile, having the right tools and resources at your fingertips makes all the difference. Here’s a curated list of trusted websites, field guides, and tools we personally use and recommend here at Mother Mycelium.

📚 Recommended Field Guides

Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountain Region
By Vera Stucky Evenson
This is our favorite field guide! It is a fantastic regional guide with detailed descriptions, excellent photos, and helpful keys for field use.

The Essential Guide to Rocky Mountain Mushrooms by Habitat
By Cathy Cripps, Vera Evenson, and Michael Kuo
This guide takes a habitat-based approach to mushroom identification, helping foragers locate species based on where they naturally grow.

Foraging Mushrooms of the Rocky Mountains
By the Colorado Mycological Society and Pikes Peak Mycological Society; Edited by Ed Lubow
Written by local experts, this field guide focuses on edible species and practical foraging advice, with insights from decades of community-based mushroom hunting in the Rockies.

Mushrooms Demystified
By David Arora
A legendary and comprehensive reference for North American mushrooms. While many of the scientific names are now outdated, it remains an excellent guide for intermediate to advanced identifiers. This classic features detailed keys, rich descriptions, and David Arora’s signature humor.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms
By Gary Lincoff
A well-organized and widely trusted guide with color photographs and practical info, making it great for field use across North America.

🌧️ Weather & Rainfall Monitoring

Tracking precipitation is key to successful foraging. Use these tools to time your outings with the right moisture conditions:

• NOAA Precipitation Data – National rainfall data updated daily.
• Colorado Climate Center Maps – Statewide precipitation data from the last week, useful for local forecasting.
• Tropical Tidbits Models – Visual weather model forecasts and reforecasts for future planning.
• CoCoRaHS Observations – Community-sourced precipitation reports from trained volunteers.
• CW3E Odds Maps – Long-term water-year precipitation outlooks.
• U.S. Drought Monitor – Real-time maps showing drought conditions across the U.S.

🔬 Online Taxonomy & Identification Tools

Fungal Taxonomy Databases:

• Index Fungorum – Authoritative database of fungal names, useful for confirming scientific nomenclature.
• MycoBank – Comprehensive resource for fungal taxonomy, descriptions, and type specimens.
• FUNGuild – A tool that classifies fungal community data into ecological guilds like decomposers, mutualists, and pathogens based on taxonomy. Great for understanding ecological roles of fungi.

Identification Help & Community Observation Platforms:

• Mushroom Expert – An extensive ID guide with keys, descriptions, and photos for North American fungi.
• Mushroom Observer – Community-powered platform to share observations and get ID input from mycologists and peers.
• iNaturalist – A mobile-friendly app and global database of nature observations where you can post photos and get help identifying mushrooms from both AI and community experts. NOTE: Do not rely on AI identification tools for mushroom IDs as they are often inaccurate.
• Zygomycetes.org – Focused resource for this often-overlooked fungal group.
• Chytrid Fungi Online – A niche site for learning about aquatic and soil chytrids, an ancient group of fungi.

📧 Contact: info@mothermycelium.com
We’re always happy to answer questions or point you to the right resources. Happy Hunting!