Matsutake Madness Hunt
In season now
A strenuous 4-hour hunt over steep hills for matsutake, with a side-by-side look at the deadly lookalike and a cleaning demo. You take home enough matsutake for hearty meals.
What you will do
- Baby matsutake buried under the forest floor are ten times more valuable
- Compare matsutake side by side with the deadly lookalike, Amanita smithiana
- Hands-on cleaning demo, with tips for cooking matsutake, especially Asian dishes
- A mushroom said to smell like red hots and dirty socks is a delicacy
- A strenuous trek over steep hills, for thrill-seeking mushroom enthusiasts
- Pre-scouted spots for maximum discovery
Included
- Snacks, hot beverages and water
- Foraging gear: safety equipment, mushroom bag, knife, gloves, walking stick and hand warmers
- Yours to keep: foraging bag, high-visibility vest and whistle
- Enough matsutake for hearty meals to take home
Bring with you
- Hiking boots (required)
- Rain jacket, hat, thin gloves, hiking pole and microspikes (strongly suggested)
- A small backpack and a water bottle
- Offline maps and a GPS tracking app such as Strava, Gaia or AllTrails
- A full packing list comes in the confirmation email
From past days out
Good to know before you book
Anything else, call or text and a person answers.
What kind of mushrooms will I find?
This hunt is focused on matsutake. You may also find a few chanterelles and lobster mushrooms, in much smaller quantities.
How physically demanding is this?
A high level of physical fitness and stamina is recommended. You are on your feet for up to 2.5 hours, hiking up and down steep hills, over and around large fallen logs, and through thick underbrush. You crouch and stand often and carry a small backpack with water and snacks plus a mesh bag that fills with mushrooms. We have hiking sticks available, but bring a hiking pole if you have one. The hunt is not suitable for people with mobility concerns.
What happens if I don’t find many mushrooms?
We can’t control Mother Nature, so we can’t offer refunds. We scout in advance and cite a 95% success rate. In the rare event you don’t find many, we still make sure you leave with some goodies to enjoy at home.
Where do we meet?
At a rendezvous point in Packwood, WA, about 2 hours 15 minutes from Seattle and Portland. Restrooms are available there but not at the hunt location. We recommend carpooling from the rendezvous point, and strongly recommend an SUV, AWD or high-clearance vehicle for wet and sometimes snowy mountain roads. The exact location is in your confirmation.
What if it rains?
The hunt runs in light rain or shine. If we have to cancel because of inclement weather, you receive a full refund.
What safety precautions do you take?
We review safety protocols at the start and give each guest a high-visibility vest and whistle. Guides stay in contact with long-range walkie-talkies, carry a first aid kit, extra snacks and water, and we carry a Garmin inReach Mini 2 on every hunt. The guide-to-guest ratio is a maximum of 1:8. There is intermittent cell service on the drive and none at the foraging location, so download offline maps and practice with a GPS tracking app such as Gaia, AllTrails or Strava.
What is the cancellation policy?
We offer cancellation insurance for 10% of the ticket price at the time of purchase. It lets you cancel up to 72 hours before the event. Otherwise sales are final, but you can send someone else in your place.
Do I need a permit?
Yes. Each person must apply for, print and carry a free mushroom foraging permit. The details come with your booking confirmation.
Are restrooms available?
Restrooms are available at the rendezvous point, but not at the location of the hunt. Take care of business beforehand and bring your own supplies. Leave no trace, including toilet paper.
Pick your date
Groups are small and the season is short. The live calendar shows every open seat.
From people who came on this one
Instead of paying $80/lb. for matsutake mushrooms, now I am able to find them on my own! I was able to learn where these elusive mushrooms grow and how to spot them. And after seeing matsutake side by side with its deadly lookalike, I will never mix up the two in the future! Absolutely worth the price for the lifetime of eating fresh matsutake mushrooms ahead.
Growing up, I ate matsutake dishes my Mom and grandmother would make for special occasions. Not only did I learn how to find them, but I was able to bring home several pounds to share with my family! What a special way for me to reconnect with my roots and relive childhood nostalgia across generations.
Nothing worth doing is easy...and same holds true for matsutake hunting! They warned us that the terrain would be steep and challenging, so definitely bring hiking poles or use their walking sticks. By taking it slow, going in a zig zag pattern, and following our guide to hidden spots, we all found more than we could comfortably carry!
