Nisene Marks State Park is a beautiful park located in the Santa Cruz Mountains in Aptos, California. The park spans over 10,000 acres and features a variety of different ecosystems, including redwood forests, oak woodlands, and grasslands.
One of the most popular activities in Nisene Marks State Park is hiking. The park has over 30 miles of trails, ranging from easy to challenging, with something for hikers of all skill levels. The Aptos Creek Trail is one of the most popular trails in the park, with stunning views of the creek and towering redwood trees.
Another popular activity in the park is mountain biking. The park has several trails that are open to mountain bikers, including the Soquel Demonstration Forest and the Ridge Trail.
Visitors can also enjoy picnicking, horseback riding, and camping in Nisene Marks State Park. The park has several picnic areas with tables and BBQs, as well as a horse staging area for equestrians. The campground has 31 campsites, each with a picnic table and fire ring.
Overall, Nisene Marks State Park is a beautiful and peaceful place to explore nature and enjoy outdoor activities in California.
Nisene Marks State Park is known for having a diverse range of mushrooms that can be found throughout the park. The park’s varied ecosystems, including redwood forests and oak woodlands, provide ideal growing conditions for mushrooms particularly during the wetter months of the year. There are many different species of mushrooms that can be found in the park, ranging from edible to toxic. Below you have a checklist of mushrooms that I compiled during my visit at the park.
A. Edible Mushrooms
Chanterelle (Chantarellus cibarius)
King Bolete (Boletus edulis)
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)
Bear’s Head (Hericium coralloides)
Honey Mushroom (Armilaria mellea)
Fat Jack (Suillus caerulescens)
Candy cap (Lactarius rubidus)
Suillus lakei
Lion’s mane (Hericium erinaceus)
Cauliflower mushroom Sparassis crispa)
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius)
Shrimp Mushroom (Russula xerampelina)
Chicken Of The Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus)
B. Other interesting mushrooms
Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica)
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)
Red belted Polypore (Fomitopsis pinicola)
C. Poisonous mushrooms
Devil’s Bolete (Boletus satanas)
Yellow Stainer (Agaricus xanthodermus)
Sulphur Tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)
Emetic Russula (Russula emetica)
Western Jack’O Lantern (Omphalotus olivascens)
False Chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca)
Fly Amanita (Amanita muscaria)
Shaggy Stalked Parasol (Lepiota clypeolaria)
Deadly Galerina (Galerina autumnalis)
The mushroom season in Nisene Marks State Park typically begins in late fall or early winter, after the first rains of the season, and lasts until early spring. During this time, the park’s forests come alive with a wide variety of mushroom species, many of which are edible and highly sought after by foragers.
The exact timing of the mushroom season can vary depending on weather patterns and other environmental factors, so it is important to check local weather and trail conditions before heading out to forage for mushrooms in the park. Additionally, it is important to remember that mushroom foraging can be dangerous if you are not familiar with the various species and their identifying characteristics, so it is recommended to go with an experienced guide who can help you stay safe and avoid any potentially toxic mushrooms. To get familiar with mushroom identification checkout The Wild Mushroom Course