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Southwest Virginia Highlands Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

Southwest Virginia Highlands

Excellent

Jefferson NF and Mt Rogers NRA in the Virginia Highlands. The highest terrain in Virginia with spruce-fir at summit elevations and rich northern hardwoods below. Ash, elm, tulip poplar, and old apple orchards in the valleys. Mt Rogers (5,729 ft) supports relict spruce-fir. Excellent morel habitat in cove forests and disturbed areas along the AT corridor.

Trees:White Ash American Elm Tulip Poplar

Updated Oct 11, 5:09 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

Southwest Virginia Highlands is rated Excellent: soil is at 61.7°F, drought is absent, and 0.99" over the past 7 and 14 days has the moisture trigger met, with soil moisture sustained (0.34 VWC today vs. 0.26 7-day avg). Nearly the whole species list is running high, led by the fall staples: Hen of the Woods, Lion's Mane, Honey Mushroom, Hedgehog, Smooth Chanterelle, Oak Milk Cap, Bear's Head Tooth, Beefsteak Polypore, and Red-Belted Conk, plus wine cap and the inky/puffball crowd in disturbed ground and open grass. Chicken of the Woods and Black Trumpet are only moderate, since soil is just touching their thresholds (3/7 and 2/7 days above), so primordia aren't fully established. Stinkhorns (Ravenel's, Elegant) are in the same early-activation spot. No limiting factor right now; the only thing to watch is soil temp, since it's sitting right at the line for the marginal species. A few more days at or above 62°F should push Chicken of the Woods and Black Trumpet up, while a cold snap would stall them and start thinning the high-rated group. Also keep an eye on rainfall: 0.99" is adequate but not heavy, so a dry week would erode that moisture buffer. Hot tip: Hit hardwood stands at mid-elevation first for Hen of the Woods and Lion's Mane on oak and beech, then come back to the Chicken of the Woods and Black Trumpet spots in 4-5 days once soil temps have held.

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(4)

Beartree Campground - Individual Sites

developed

American Land and Leisure~8.2 mi from centerFee required/night

55 sites

Beartree Campground - Group Sites

developed

American Land and Leisure~9.1 mi from centerFee required/night

29 sites

Beartree Recreation Area

developed

USFS~9.2 mi from centerFee required/night

George Washington & Jefferson National Forest

Reserve →

Camp Burson

developed

State~9.8 mi from center

waterelectric hookup

Reserve →

⚠ 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

MODERATEActivating

Chicken of the WoodsLaetiporus sulphureus

soil warming up (62°F today, only 3/7 days above threshold — mycelium activating, primordia not yet established), today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained

HIGHPrimed

Hen of the WoodsGrifola frondosa

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Lion's ManeHericium erinaceus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

MODERATEActivating

Black TrumpetCraterellus cornucopioides

soil temp marginal (62°F vs 62°F min, 2/7 days above), today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained

HIGHPrimed

Honey MushroomArmillaria mellea

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Death CapAmanita phalloides

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Hedgehog MushroomHydnum repandum

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ManeCoprinus comatus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine CapStropharia rugosoannulata

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant PuffballCalvatia gigantea

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Beefsteak PolyporeFistulina hepatica

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Liberty CapPsilocybe semilanceata

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey TailTrametes versicolor

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's ButterTremella mesenterica

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jack-o-LanternOmphalotus olearius

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bear's Head ToothHericium americanum

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly EarAuricularia auricula-judae

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Sulphur TuftHypholoma fasciculare

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Orange Peel FungusAleuria aurantia

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's FingersXylaria polymorpha

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol MushroomMacrolepiota procera

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy ParasolChlorophyllum rhacodes

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring ChampignonMarasmius oreades

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Meadow MushroomAgaricus campestris

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's ConkGanoderma applanatum

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch PolyporeFomitopsis betulina

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest FungusCyathus striatus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Scarlet WaxcapHygrocybe coccinea

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Violet CoralClavaria zollingeri

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the WoodsStrobilomyces strobilaceus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse MushroomAgaricus arvensis

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Pear-Shaped PuffballLycoperdon pyriforme

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica CapCoprinellus micaceus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shrimp of the WoodsEntoloma abortivum

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth ChanterelleCantharellus lateritius

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Golden SpindlesClavulinopsis fusiformis

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill LepiotaChlorophyllum molybdites

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Milk CapLactarius quietus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol InkyCoprinopsis atramentaria

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy InkcapCoprinellus disseminatus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Magpie InkyCoprinopsis picacea

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-StainerAgaricus xanthodermus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted ConkFomitopsis pinicola

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter PolyporePolyporus brumalis

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze PolyporeDaedaleopsis confragosa

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze PolyporeCerrena unicolor

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey TailStereum ostrea

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coral ToothHericium coralloides

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow FungusTremella fuciformis

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood EarAuricularia americana

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tooth JellyPseudohydnum gelatinosum

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly AntlerCalocera viscosa

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green ElfcupChlorociboria aeruginascens

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory FunnelClitocybe dealbata

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Angel WingsPleurocybella porrigens

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen OysterPleurotus populinus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Elm OysterHypsizygus ulmarius

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk SlimeLycogala epidendrum

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's NestCrucibulum laeve

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Devil's CigarChorioactis geaster

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's CakesDaldinia concentrica

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Winter Mushroom / Wild EnokiFlammulina velutipes

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snowy WaxcapCuphophyllus virgineus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parrot WaxcapGliophorus psittacinus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 6/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's NestCyathus stercoreus

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak MazegillDaedalea quercina

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Gilled GymGymnopilus luteofolius

All conditions met (soil 62°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained)

MODERATEActivating

Ravenel's Stinkhorn

soil warming up (62°F today, only 3/7 days above threshold — mycelium activating, primordia not yet established), today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — moisture sustained

MODERATEActivating

Elegant StinkhornMutinus elegans

soil warming up (62°F today, only 3/7 days above threshold — mycelium activating, primordia not yet established), today 0.34 VWC, 7d avg 0.26 — 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.

Southwest Virginia Highlands

AI Conditions Report

Found something?

Nearby Camping

Beartree Campground - Individual Sites

Beartree Campground - Group Sites

Beartree Recreation Area

Camp Burson

Conditions History

Viable Species