HAMMOND - There is an amazing variety of fungi that thrive in Oregon. Fort Stevens State Park offers two kinds of programs in which participants can learn more about mushrooms. Through mid-November, join an Oregon state park ranger Fridays for a guided hike for wild mushrooms, or Saturdays for an informative program about mushrooms, followed by a short hike.
The Friday hikes will focus on the varieties of wild mushrooms that grow in the area. Participants should plan on wearing weather-appropriate clothing and should bring a basket, pocketknife and mushroom identification book if they have them. Also, participants are encouraged to bring in mushrooms for identification. The hikes will begin at Battery Russell and will be around 1 mile round trip. There is no registration or fee required for the hikes. The hikes begin at 1 p.m. and will take place Sept. 28, Oct. 5, 12 and 19 and Nov. 9 and 23. Battery Russell is located off Jetty Road, north of the park's main entrance on Peter Iredale Road.
The Saturday programs will cover the regulations, uses and identification of wild mushrooms in Oregon as well as the role they play in the health of the forest. Following the program there will be a short hike around the park to look for and identify mushrooms. The programs will be held at the picnic shelter at Coffenbury Lake. There is no registration or fee for the programs, but there is a $5 parking fee at the lake. The programs will begin at 1 p.m. Sept. 29, Oct. 13 and 20 and Nov. 10 and 24. Coffenbury Lake is located off Peter Iredale Road, past the park's visitor center.
For more information, contact Park Ranger Dane Osis at 503-861-3170, Ext. 41, or dane.osis@state.or.us
