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Loess Hills Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

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Loess Hills

1,000–1,500 ft · IA🚗 Directions

S

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 Aug 27, 4:18 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# Loess Hills S-Tier Flush – August 27, 2026 This is a textbook fruiting window: 5.38" in 14 days, sustained 0.15+ VWC, soil locked at 71°F, and zero drought stress. The Loess Hills are firing on all cylinders—there's no limiting factor because conditions hit the sweet spot across temperature stability, moisture retention, and biological activity. You're looking at 100+ viable species simultaneous, which means the forest floor is in full production mode. Prioritize edibles with shortest lag-to-fruit: **Oysters, Chanterelles, Shaggy Manes, and Chicken of the Woods** will be showing first flush. Polypores (Turkey Tail, Artist's Conk, Birch) are solid but slower. Secondary flush (day 3–5) brings in Puffballs and Boletes hard. The moisture profile will hold steady for 7–10 days minimum before drying. Nothing's holding you back—the region has zero antagonists. Watch for rapid dehydration after day 9 if no additional rain hits; VWC will drop fast at this elevation in late August heat. **Hot tip:** Hit north-facing ravine systems at dawn—Chanterelle and Hedgehog colonies will pin earlier and stay turgid longest in shade, while south-facing slopes fruit faster but wilt by midday.

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(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 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

ChanterelleCantharellus cibarius

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Destroying AngelAmanita bisporigera

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

EarthstarGeastrum triplex

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen BoleteLeccinum insigne

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk CapLactarius indigo

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped CoralArtomyces pyxidatus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Deadly GalerinaGalerina marginata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar ChanterelleCantharellus cinnabarinus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Violet WebcapCortinarius violaceus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's PolyporeBondarzewia berkeleyi

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber StalkLeccinum aurantiacum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Frost's BoleteBoletus frostii

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored BoleteBoletus bicolor

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

BlusherAmanita rubescens

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's AmanitaAmanita jacksonii

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk CapLactifluus volemus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Gem-Studded PuffballLycoperdon perlatum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow PatchesAmanita flavoconia

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Poison PieHebeloma crustuliniforme

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

HuitlacocheUstilago maydis

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

CordycepsCordyceps militaris

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter BoleteTylopilus felleus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked RussulaRussula virescens

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Blackening RussulaRussula nigricans

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk CapLactarius piperatus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

GrisetteAmanita vaginata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's AmanitaAmanita cokeri

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Northern ToothClimacodon septentrionalis

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Eyelash CupScutellinia scutellata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Crested CoralClavulina cristata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime MoldFuligo septica

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Aniseed FunnelClitocybe odora

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Parasite BoletePseudoboletus parasiticus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Rooted CollybiaXerula furfuracea

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

The DeceiverLaccaria laccata

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Common StinkhornPhallus impudicus

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Dune StinkhornPhallus hadriani

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

HIGHPrimed

Lantern StinkhornLysurus mokusin

All conditions met (soil 71°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.15 VWC, 7d avg 0.16)

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.