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Coal River / Southern WV Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Coal River / Southern WV

800–3,500 ft · WV🚗 Directions

S

Southern coalfields and the upper Coal River watershed — heart of Appalachian morel and ramps culture. Mixed mesophytic forest in the deep coves: tulip poplar, basswood, sugar maple, white oak, beech, and rich understory of ramps (Allium tricoccum), bloodroot, and trillium. Coal River Mountain, Kayford Mountain, and Wyoming/Boone county headwaters. Spring morels in tulip poplar coves and dying-elm flats; ramps March-April; black trumpets and chanterelles in summer; hen-of-the-woods on white oak in fall.

Trees:Tulip Poplar Sugar Maple White Oak

Updated Aug 27, 4:23 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

**Coal River S-Tier Breakdown** You're sitting in a rare convergence: 6.43" of rain over two weeks has saturated the profile, soil temps are locked at the sweet spot (69°F), and there's zero drought stress. This region is firing on all cylinders—no limiting factors. You've got 80+ species viable simultaneously across woody, terrestrial, and saprobic niches, from gourmet tier (Chicken of the Woods, Black Trumpets, true Chanterelles) to medicinals (Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk) to easy volume plays (Giant Puffballs, Wine Caps, Shaggy Manes). The real story: late August in the Appalachian elevation band (800–3,500 ft) usually runs dry. This rain event has broken that pattern hard, and the sustained 7-day moisture average tells you fruiting bodies are already pushing. Wood decay species (polypores, jelly fungi) are prolific; ground fruiting (Amanitas, Milk Caps, Boletes) is explosive. Nothing is holding you back. Watch the next 3–5 days: if you get even light rain, fruiting accelerates exponentially. If temps drop to 62°F+, the flush window extends another week. If it dries out, this S-rating collapses to A within 48 hours—moisture is the only knife edge here. **Hot tip:** Hit north-facing oak-hickory slopes at dawn; Indigo Milk Caps and Oak Milk Caps are prolific in saturated leaf litter and you'll beat foot traffic to stands of Chanterelles in the same microhabitat.

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

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Nearby Camping

Within(0)

No campgrounds within 10 mi. Try widening the radius.

⚠ 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

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.28 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 69°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 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.