It’s an unofficial fact that foraging adds an extra something special to your experience. It could be growing an herb garden on your window sill, heading to an apple farm to pick your own or even heading into a forest for delicious finds like berries or culinary mushrooms. There’s something about the search that makes the discovery so much sweeter.
So if you want to try out foraging your own magic mushrooms, here’s a quick look at the top 25 counties in the US for Psilocybe foraging.
What to Know Before You Go
Types and Environments
First and foremost, it’s good to know what sort of environment these mushrooms like to grow in. There are three main types of magic mushrooms: ones that grow on wood or plant materials, ones that grow on animal dung and ones that grow on well-decomposed plant materials.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do: Know the Difference
If you’re new to foraging, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and what (potentially poisonous) lookalikes could be looming in the area — and this is true of foraging for any type of shroom, not just the magical ones.
Don’t: Trespass
Trespassing certainly comes with its own risks, especially when you get confronted by a landowner. If you have your eyes set on a location, however, you can try talking with the landowner (it might be a good idea to bring some beer or a bottle of wine for them as a friendly gesture).
Do: Take Only What You Need
It’s an unspoken nicety that you only take a reasonable amount. Oh, and be sure to leave the baby mushrooms, or pins.
Don’t: Consume What You’re Not Sure About
Repeat after us: when in doubt, throw it out. Or, in this case, leave it alone.
Resources
Thanks to a foraging culture that’s been going strong since the ‘60s and ‘70s there are plenty of resources for you to look to:
For general mushroom identification
- Field Guide to Mushrooms (edited by Gary Lincoff and published by the National Audubon Society)
- Mushrooms Demystified (David Aurora)
- Mushrooms: A comprehensive guide to mushroom identification (Roger Phillips)
For researching the Psilocybe genus
- Psilocybin Mushrooms of the World (Paul Stamets)
- The Genus Psilocybe (Gaston Guzman)
- Magic Mushrooms Around the World (Jochen Gartz)
For mapping and identifying species in your region
- Mushroom Observer
- GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility)
- iNaturalist
There are also loads of foraging forums and Facebook groups to help out with identification, but be wary of the group’s rules and etiquette — especially when asking about where to go. Many groups prefer to keep locations a secret to protect their unique foraging spots.
25 US Counties With the Highest Findings of Magic Mushrooms
Without further ado, here are the top 25 counties in the US for Psilocybe observances (according to this MoveBuddha infographic and iNaturalist Research-Grade Observations):
- Pacific, WA
- Clatsop, OR
- Tillamook, OR
- Benton, OR
- Dewitt, TX
- Thurston, WA
- Lewis, WA
- Humboldt, CA
- Lincoln, OR
- Warren, PA
- Grays Harbor, WA
- Ashland, OH
- Rusk, TX
- Cattaraugus, NY
- Washington, VT
- San Mateo, CA
- Lackawanna, PA
- San Francisco, CA
- Alameda, CA
- Contra Costa, CA
- Highlands, Fl
- Mendocino, CA
- Alachua, FL
- King, WA
- Allegheny, PA
Happy foraging, everyone. Be safe, have fun and (most importantly) have a nice trip! And if you’d rather DIY your shroom garden, check out our top recommend mushroom grow kits to get you started.
