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Loess Hills Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Loess Hills

1,000–1,500 ft · IA🚗 Directions

Good

Loess Hills along the Missouri River in Harrison, Monona, and Pottawattamie counties — windblown silt bluffs up to 200 feet tall, found at this scale only here and in China. Steep south-facing slopes hold goat prairie; north slopes hold bur oak, shagbark hickory, basswood, and ironwood. Morels in the ravine bottoms; chanterelles in protected oak draws. Preparation Canyon and Broken Kettle Grasslands for access.

Trees:Bur Oak Shagbark Hickory Basswood

Updated Oct 11, 5:13 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Loess Hills rates Good for fruiting. Soil is warm at 72.7°F and has held above threshold all week, and the 2.38" over the past 14 days left moisture in the profile (0.20 VWC today, 0.22 seven-day average). Nearly every species on the list is flagging high, so the useful picks are the ones that suit a warm October flush: Hen of the Woods, Chicken of the Woods, Oyster and Honey Mushrooms on wood; Blewits, Wine Caps, Shaggy Manes, Giant Puffballs, Meadow and Horse Mushrooms in open ground and disturbed soil. The limiting factor is desiccation. The last 7 days brought 0" of rain, and 0.20 VWC is below the 7-day average, so the profile is drying and exposed flushes will degrade fast. Expect that trend to continue without new rain, with the best fruiting in sheltered, shaded and woody microsites while open sun-baked slopes fade first. The deadly species (Death Cap, Destroying Angel, Deadly Galerina) are flagging high as well, so be rigorous with your IDs on every gilled mushroom in the leaf litter. Hot tip: Hunt north-facing draws and the bases of mature hardwoods for wood-decay species, and go early, since the dry spell will leave anything on exposed ground past its prime within a day or two.

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 Potential75/100

✅Moisture

✅Soil Temp

✅No Freeze

✅No Drought

Precip 7d

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Nearby Camping

Within(1)

Woodland Campground

developed

~0.5 mi from centerFee required/night

⚠ 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

Oyster MushroomPleurotus ostreatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hen of the WoodsGrifola frondosa

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

BlewitLepista nuda

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter PolyporePolyporus brumalis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elfin SaddleHelvella crispa

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Devil's CigarChorioactis geaster

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter Mushroom / Wild EnokiFlammulina velutipes

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Common StinkhornPhallus impudicus

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

All conditions met (soil 73°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.20 VWC, 7d avg 0.22 — 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.