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Willamette Valley / Columbia Gorge Foraging Conditions — ForageIQ

Willamette Valley / Columbia Gorge

Portland-area lowlands including the Willamette Valley, Sandy River corridor, Clackamas River drainage, and lower Columbia River Gorge. Prime spring morel territory at low elevations where soil warms weeks before the Cascades. Cottonwood river bottoms, old orchards, and urban bark mulch are key habitats.

Trees:Douglas Fir Western Hemlock White Oak

Updated Jul 13, 4:13 AM MT

AI Conditions Report

AI-generated · verify in field

# Willamette Valley / Columbia Gorge — S Tier | July 13, 2026 **Why S Tier:** You're sitting in a sweet spot: sustained soil temps at 61°F for a full week, 0.20 VWC averaging across the 14-day window, and zero drought stress. Every major guild is primed—wood-decayers, grass saprophytes, mycorrhizal associates across hardwood and conifer zones. This is a rare summer flush window for the Valley. **What's Viable:** Focus your effort on *Frost's Bolete*, *Wine Cap*, and *Indigo Milk Cap*—these are the edible anchors with zero equivocation. The polypores (*Artist's Conk*, *Birch Polypore*, *Tinder Fungus*) are secondary-tier harvestables. Wood ears and jelly ears are everywhere and reliable. If you're doing medicinal work, Chaga and Turkey Tail have been locked in for days. **The Limiting Factor:** Moderate desiccation risk is your only brake—we've had zero precip in the last 7 days. Moisture will hold for 3–4 more days at current VWC, but after that you'll see rapid mycelial retreat into deeper substrate. Target the north-facing, mossy understory where evaporation lags. **Watch the Next 72 Hours:** Forecast precipitation is your signal. Any rain bumps this to S+ and extends the window another 10 days. Dry through Friday and you're watching the flush collapse by midweek. **Hot tip:** Hit the shadiest oak and Douglas-fir stands in the lower Gorge at dawn—morning dew will mask the V

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(9)

Barton Park Camping

developed

~5.3 mi from center

Reserve →

Camp Howard

developed

Catholic Youth Organization~6.4 mi from center

Oxbow Regional Park Campground

developed

Oregon Metro~6.7 mi from center

Kingfisher Group Camp

developed

State~7.5 mi from centerFee required/night

watertoiletpicnic table

Reserve →

Clackamas River Ranger District

developed

USFS~7.6 mi from center

Milo McIver Campground

developed

~7.6 mi from center

Hiker/Biker sites

developed

~7.7 mi from centerFee required/night

picnic table

Chinook Group Camp

developed

~7.7 mi from center

Steelhead Group Camp

developed

~7.8 mi from center

⚠ 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

Frost's Bolete

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wine Cap

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Giant Puffball

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Witch's Butter

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Bolete

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Indigo Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Chaga

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Crown-Tipped Coral

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Jelly Ear

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dead Man's Fingers

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Bolete

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Parasol Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Shaggy Parasol

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Ring Champignon

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Artist's Conk

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Birch Polypore

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Tinder Fungus

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bird's Nest Fungus

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Cinnabar Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Berkeley's Polypore

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Capped Scaber Stalk

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Old Man of the Woods

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Horse Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mica Cap

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Two-Colored Bolete

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Smooth Chanterelle

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Caesar's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Weeping Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green-Gill Lepiota

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Bitter Bolete

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Cracked Russula

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Peppery Milk Cap

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Coker's Amanita

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fool's Mushroom

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Alcohol Inky

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fairy Inkcap

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Yellow-Stainer

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Red-Belted Conk

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Thin-Walled Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Mossy Maze Polypore

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

False Turkey Tail

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Northern Tooth

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Snow Fungus

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wood Ear

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Green Elfcup

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ivory Funnel

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Aspen Oyster

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Wolf's Milk Slime

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dog Vomit Slime Mold

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Fluted Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

King Alfred's Cakes

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dung Bird's Nest

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Oak Mazegill

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Ovoid-Spore Psilocybe

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Banded Mottlegill

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 7/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — moisture sustained)

HIGHPrimed

Dune Stinkhorn

All conditions met (soil 61°F, sustained 5/7 days above threshold, today 0.18 VWC, 7d avg 0.20 — 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.

Willamette Valley / Columbia Gorge

AI Conditions Report

Found something?

Nearby Camping

Barton Park Camping

Camp Howard

Oxbow Regional Park Campground

Kingfisher Group Camp

Clackamas River Ranger District

Milo McIver Campground

Hiker/Biker sites

Chinook Group Camp

Steelhead Group Camp

Viable Species

Limiting Factors