Mushroom foraging laws in Washington
Compiled from official sources; not legal advice. Rules change. Confirm with the land manager or the agency before you pick.
Summary
Washington allows picking mushrooms for your own use on state park land (up to two gallons a day) and in some areas of DNR-managed land (three gallons of one species a day, with a yearly cap). Reselling what you pick is not allowed on these lands. Rules differ by land manager and some sites are closed to picking.
Public land
State parks: harvest of edibles, including mushrooms, is allowed for personal use unless posted otherwise, and is not allowed in natural area preserves. DNR-managed lands: DNR says personal-use mushroom harvest is allowed in some areas, but not in DNR-managed campgrounds and picnic sites, natural area preserves or natural resources conservation areas (unless a site plan allows it). DNR's general rule on removing plants and natural features without written authorization (WAC 332-52-115) does not mention mushrooms, so how it applies to them is unclear. Federal lands follow their own rules.
Permits
DNR's recreation page does not state a permit requirement for personal-use mushroom picking. DNR separately sells brush and mushroom permits for Capitol Forest; the page does not explain who needs them.
Limits
State parks: two gallons per person per day unless posted otherwise (WAC 352-28-030). DNR lands: three gallons of a single species per day, not to exceed nine gallons plus one mushroom per year (stated on DNR's recreation page; I found no WAC section with these numbers).
Selling
Commercial harvest is not allowed on state park lands (WAC 352-28-030). DNR's recreation page says no reselling of personal-use harvests on DNR land. A food establishment may only serve wild mushrooms that meet WAC 246-215-03225 (see below).
Morel sales
Under WAC 246-215-03225, a food establishment may only get wild mushrooms from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Montana or British Columbia. Each mushroom must be individually identified fresh, and only listed species may be sold or served. Morels (Morchella) are on the list. Identifier paperwork must be kept on file for 90 days. Wild mushrooms for immediate service must be cooked to 135 F, except those sold for home use from grocery or farmers markets.
Sources
- WAC 352-28-030 Harvest of edibles (State Parks) - Washington Legislature
- WAC 332-52-115 Removal of plants, soils, rocks and other valuable materials - Washington Legislature
- Washington DNR - Where to go, what to do
- Washington DNR - Brush, Salal and Other Forest Products
- WAC 246-215-03225 Sources - wild mushrooms - Washington Legislature
Last verified: November 11, 2026