Get Trail-Ready for Mushroom Season: Join the Quail Hollow Habitat Hike Oct. 24, 2026
Foraging season is about to begin, and the best way to get ready is to learn where mushrooms grow before you go looking for them. This Saturday, October 24, join the Fungus Federation for a Habitat Hike at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park in Felton.
Every experienced forager will tell you the same thing: find the right tree, and you are halfway to finding the right mushroom. Many of the fungi we love live in partnership with specific trees, trading nutrients through their roots. Learn to read the forest, and the forest starts telling you where to look.
What’s a habitat hike?
A habitat hike is a guided walk focused on ecosystems rather than individual finds. Instead of scanning the ground for caps, look up and around. Guides will identify the trees, name the plant communities, and talk through which fungi we would expect to see in each one.
It’s training for your eyes. Once you know that a certain mushroom favors a certain tree, every walk in the woods becomes a smarter search.
Four ecosystems in one walk
Quail Hollow Ranch is a rare spot: it holds four distinct biotic communities within a single park. The hike’s 5.8-mile route passes through all of them.
- Redwood forest. Cool, shaded and damp, with a deep layer of duff underfoot. You’ll learn about how fungi break down this rich forest floor.
- Mixed evergreen forest. A blend of hardwoods and conifers, and a classic setting for many of the region’s prized mycorrhizal mushrooms.
- Chaparral. Dense, drought-tough shrubland. It looks dry, but its shrubs have fungal partners too.
- Closed-cone pine forest. Pines adapted to fire, whose cones often need heat to open. Pines host their own set of fungal companions.
At each stop, we’ll ask the same question: given these trees, what mushrooms should we expect here, and when?
More than mushrooms
Fungi are the stars, but they aren’t the only thing worth knowing on this trail. Along the way, you’ll hear about the medicinal properties and traditional uses of many of the plants you pass.
One important note: foraging is not allowed at Quail Hollow Ranch. You won’t gather any mushrooms or plants on this hike. Think of it as a look-and-learn day. Bring a camera and a journal, and leave with knowledge you can put to use on future foraging trips where collecting is permitted.
The details
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Time | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (arrive 8:45 AM to gather) |
| Meeting spot | Outside the Ranch House |
| Location | Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, 800 Quail Hollow Rd, Felton, CA 95018 |
| Distance | 5.8 miles with 800 ft of elevation gain, or a 3-mile option with 300 ft |
| Trail | Mostly single-track dirt, moderate pace |
| Cost | Adults $5, children 12 and under free |
We’ll start with a short introductory talk at 9:00. If you’d rather not do the full loop, you can turn back early on the shorter 3-mile route.
Bring: sturdy shoes, layers, water, snacks or lunch, a camera, a journal, and your human friends.
Please leave dogs at home. Pets aren’t allowed at Quail Hollow (the park’s rule, not ours!).
Save your spot
Spots are limited and filling up. Ticket sales close at 9:10 AM on the morning of the hike, but don’t wait that long.
Can’t find your confirmation email? Check your spam or junk folder. Other questions? Contact FFSC.
See you on the trail!
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