You're offline — showing cached data

Loading conditions…

Bankhead NF Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

🚗 Get Directions

Bankhead NF

600–1,100 ft · AL🚗 Directions

S

William B. Bankhead NF in north-central AL — mixed mesophytic forest with massive tulip poplar, beech, and white oak in deep sandstone gorges (Sipsey Wilderness). Best spring morel habitat in AL and excellent late-summer chanterelle grounds.

Trees:Tulip Poplar White Oak American Beech

Updated Jul 13, 4:15 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**Bankhead NF S-Tier Breakdown** This is a perfect storm: sustained soil warmth at 78°F, two weeks of solid precipitation anchoring moisture at 0.28 VWC, and zero drought stress create textbook fruiting conditions across the board. Every major edible and medicinal species viable here is actively triggered. The 2+ inches in the last week keep substrate hydration in the sweet spot without oversaturation—ideal for both gilled fungi and wood-decay polypores. There's no limiting factor; this is peak season density. Your money makers right now are the boletes (Frost's, Aspen, Two-Colored), chanterelles (true and cinnabar), and turkey tail for medicinal bulk. Oysters and chicken of the woods will fruit prolifically on hardwood. Don't sleep on the corals and jelly ears—they're prolific in these warm-wet conditions and easy volume. Watch the next 5 days for a dry spell; even one hot, dry day will slow flush timing and fragment your window. **Hot tip:** Seek north-facing ravines and shaded hardwood stands where soil stays coolest—you'll extend flush duration and catch later fruiters that abort in full sun at 78°F.

Generated by Claude (Anthropic) from the structured weather, soil, and phenology data on this page. The LLM can misread edge cases — treat this as a starting hypothesis, not a guarantee. Always verify conditions on the ground before committing to a long drive.

Foraging Potential95/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

Found something?

Log your find on iNaturalist to help the community and get expert ID assistance. Photos, location, and habitat notes all help with identification.

Log on iNaturalist View recent finds nearby →

Nearby Camping

Within(5)

McDougle Camp

developed

USFS~2.9 mi from center

water

Claymore Camp #1

developed

~3.8 mi from center

Wolf Pen Hunters Camp

developed

USFS~5.1 mi from center

water

Brushy Lake Recreation Area

developed

USFS~8.3 mi from centerFee required/night

National Forests in Alabama

Brushy Lake Recreational Area Campground

developed

USFS~8.3 mi from centerFee required/night

13 sites

water

⚠ Road Access Notice

Always verify road access is public before following GPS directions to mountain areas. Many forest roads are seasonal, gated, or require 4WD. Dispersed camping follows USFS/BLM rules (typically 14-day limit). Check ranger district offices for current road and campground conditions.

Viable Species

Confidence × Primordia state

HIGHPrimed

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oyster Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black Trumpet

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying Angel

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blusher

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded Puffball

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow Patches

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cordyceps

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening Russula

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Grisette

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash Cup

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested Coral

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite Bolete

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted Collybia

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The Deceiver

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden Teacher

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blue Meanies

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 78°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.28 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

Primordia readiness: Cold = mycelium dormant. Activating = soil warming, primordia building. Primed = 5+ sustained warm days at species threshold; fruiting imminent if moisture cooperates. Based on Schmidt 1983 / Mihail 2007.