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600–2,301 ft · MN🚗 Directions
North Shore of Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains — Superior Hiking Trail corridor from Duluth to the Canadian border. Paper birch, quaking aspen, balsam fir, white spruce, northern white cedar, and sugar maple on the rugged volcanic bedrock. Lake effect moderates the climate. Exceptional birch bolete, chanterelle, and king bolete country; lobster mushrooms on spruce; morels following spring jack pine burns.
Updated Oct 11, 5:18 AM MT
The North Shore/Sawtooth region is rated Excellent. Soil is at 53.4°F, volumetric moisture is steady (0.25 today against a 0.27 seven-day average), there's no drought, and snowmelt is complete, so the moisture trigger is met and nothing is holding the system back. The strongest bets are the cool-tolerant species that have held their soil threshold for 5-7 days: oyster, lion's mane, matsutake, hedgehog, saffron milk cap, lobster, slippery jack, the boletes (bay, painted, chicken-fat, admirable), gypsy mushroom, angel wings and the coral/tooth group. Heat-lovers like chicken of the woods, black trumpet, cauliflower, shaggy mane and the parasols are stalled at 0/7 days above their thresholds, and hen of the woods and honey mushroom are only at 3/7 with mycelium waking up but no primordia yet. Rainfall has been light (0.42" over 14 days), but the soil is holding moisture well, so this is a sustained-moisture flush rather than a rain-pulse one. Watch for a temperature drop below the 50s, since each cooler night will further shut off the warm-season species while the cold-tolerant group keeps pushing. Another dry week would be the thing to worry about, so look for rain to keep the moisture average from sliding. Hot tip: Hit north-facing, mixed conifer-hardwood slopes at mid-elevation for matsutake, hedgehogs and boletes, and check dead hardwood on the way in for lion's mane and oysters.
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.
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Superior National Forest
Superior National Forest
Superior National Forest
⚠ 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.
Precip 7d
0.21"
PRISM 4km · thru 10-09
Precip 14d
Observed precipitation from PRISM 4km gridded analysis, sampled at the region centroid through 2026-10-09. Used when no SNOTEL/SCAN station is mapped to this region.0.42"
PRISM 4km · thru 10-09
Soil Temp
53°F
SWE
Snow Water Equivalent — how much water is in the snowpack vs. normal. Declining SWE means snowmelt is adding moisture to the soil.0%
Drought
None
Snowmelt
complete
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil warming up (53°F today, only 3/7 days above threshold — mycelium activating, primordia not yet established), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 62°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil warming up (53°F today, only 3/7 days above threshold — mycelium activating, primordia not yet established), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 58°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
soil temp marginal (53°F vs 55°F min, 0/7 days above), today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — moisture sustained)
All conditions met (soil 53°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.25 VWC, 7d avg 0.27 — 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.