5 Colorado Mushrooms That Are Safe to Forage — and How to Identify Them

Hiking in the Colorado wilderness is a pretty popular hobby for outdoors types, but there’s a much more niche hobby that some hikers also participate in - foraging for mushrooms.

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Naturally, just picking a mushroom off the ground or a tree and eating it is ill-advised, as there are plenty of poisonous varieties of fungus, but mycologists recommend first looking for five easily-identifiable non-poisonous types.

Safe Colorado Mushrooms: Porcini

Porcini mushrooms, according to Modern Forager, resemble a “reddish brown hamburger bun” and are found in conifer forests between July and September at altitudes between 10,500 and 11,200 feet.

Safe Colorado Mushrooms: Chanterelle

Chanterelle mushrooms are also edible and are bright yellow or orange, and have a scent similar to apricots. These mushrooms are also found in conifer forests above 10,500 feet, but are much smaller than Porcinis and have “gills.”

Safe Colorado Mushrooms: Hawk’s Wing

Hawk’s Wing mushrooms are found in the same conifer forests as Chanterelles and Porcinis, but have a distinct purple or brown appearance that, much like its name suggests, resembles feathers.

Safe Colorado Mushrooms: Delicious Milky Cap

Delicious Milky Cap mushrooms are primarily orange in color with stain-like spots that are green or blue. This mushroom gets its name because a milky substance comes out of it when opened up.

Safe Colorado Mushrooms: Puff Ball

Finally, the Puff Ball mushroom, as its name suggests, looks like a white, sometimes with protrusions, puff ball.

While each of these mushrooms is safe to eat, it’s important to make sure that you’re not mistaking one of these varieties with a poisonous look-alike, so it’s recommended to consult an expert before attempting to eat any mushrooms found in the wild.

Read More: Mushrooms Being Grown in Colorado Forests + Not Why You’d Assume

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