Learn to Forage For ‘Mysterious’ Mushrooms in Astoria This Fall

Friday, October 17, 2014

Kirsten Nicolaisen, GoLocalPDX Digital Producer

Photo credit: iStock

Astoria, Portland's cool coastal cousin, is about to get a little bit cooler. This Fall, Astoria's Fort Stevens State Park features several mushroom identification, education and foraging programs

Park Ranger Dane Osis will lead one-mile hikes where participants will collect and learn how to identify different types of mushrooms along the way. Osis encourages hikers to wear weather-appropirate clothing and bring a basket and pocket knife.

Ranger Osis also presents "Mysterious Mushrooms of Fort Stevens," a program about wild mushroom regulations and the role mushrooms play in the health of the forest. This program also features short hikes around the park to look for and identify mushrooms.

The one mile hike will begin at Battery Russell at 1 PM on Oct. 20 and Nov. 10 and 30. The Mysterious Mushroom program will be held at the picnic shelter at Coffenbury Lake at 1 PM on Oct. 18 and Nov. 9, 22, and 29.

No registration is required for the free programs. Parking is $5 at Coffenbury Lake. For more information, call Dane Osis at Fort Stevens at 503-861-3170 or email [email protected].