Back in Season! Guided Fungi Foray: Discover San Diego’s Hidden World of Mushrooms
In winter and early spring, San Diego’s canyons and oak woodlands come alive with mushrooms of every shape and color. Join North Star Naturalist for a guided fungi foray to learn how to find, identify, and appreciate the remarkable role of fungi in our local ecosystems.
You’ll explore shady trails near Lakeside, spot delicate mushrooms peeking through the soil, and uncover the fascinating partnerships between fungi, plants, and wildlife. Learn how to observe mushrooms ethically, photograph them beautifully, and see the forest from a whole new perspective.
‣ Perfect for: families, photographers, native plant enthusiasts, and solitude seekers
‣ Distance: about 2.5 miles (easy to moderately challenging)
‣ Duration: 2–3 hours
‣ Season: winter through early spring
‣ Location: Lakeside area, ~30 minutes from San Diego
‣ Private options available with shorter/easier routes
A seasonal favorite for curious minds — this easy-going adventure reveals a side of San Diego few people ever notice.
Cypress was an amazing guide. The interpretive hike was a fantastic introduction to the world of fungi. I’ve been trying to reconnect with nature and this was a very positive experience for a homebody like me. - Ivan L.
You won’t find a better guide to nature in San Diego than North Star Naturalist. Cypress Hansen is a walking, talking encyclopedia of knowledge about so many subjects (mushrooms, plants, bugs), but she shares it in such a fun, passionate and natural way that you won’t realize how much you are learning. Like Mary Poppins, she pulls fun things out her bag (oak galls and ink, mushroom spore prints, mushroom-dyed scarf) and tells great stories about what you are seeing. Rather than a memorized spiel, Cypress adapts her walk to what the group asks about or spots along the way. It's very entertaining and interactive, great for kids and adults alike. - Angie V.
