Frolic & Forage in Northeast Washington

You’ll find plenty of delicious goodness in this neck of the woods

If you’re looking for something outdoorsy to do that ends in tasty loot and a sense of accomplishment, then Northeast Washington’s forests and farms have just the thing. Wild huckleberry-picking, morel hunting, and visiting u-pick farms are some of our state’s favorite pastimes.

Huckleberry Picking

No one wants to give up their secret huckleberry picking spots, but the good news is that there’s plenty for everyone! Though foraging spots are often precious to locals (and in some areas prohibited to non-tribal members), the northeast part of the state is rich in public forest lands where you can forage — just remember to be courteous and respectful while foraging.

Some of the most prime picking happens on the aptly-named Huckleberry Mountain near Valley, Sherman Pass, and the Colville National Forest. The best time for the tastiest huckleberries is generally mid‑July to September in our area of Washington but that window can expand depending on elevation, the weather that year, and the direction a slope faces.

Berries at lower elevations ripen earlier, but as the season progresses you’ll want to start searching higher. The general rule of thumb for elevation is around at least 3,000 feet before you’ll see a lot of huckleberries, but higher elevations will yield more, especially later in the season. We’ve found the sweet spot to be around 5,000 feet in mid to late August.

Huckleberries can grow anywhere from full sun to mostly shade, so look for slightly shaded areas on the sunny side of the mountain for plentiful patches. Huckleberries are often found in slopped clearings within conifer forests, so look for brushy areas, old burns, or clearcuts.

Washington generally permits huckleberry picking for personal use, but how much depends on where you’re picking. The Colville National Forest allows up to three gallons of berries per year per person and no permit is required. Be sure to check limits for the specific area you are in at the local ranger district office and keep your eyes peeled for signage indicating areas reserved for tribal harvesting.  

When picking, choose berries that are plump, deep purple, and sweet to the taste. Using rakes, combs, or other mechanical devices to pick berries is prohibited — plus purple-stained hands is part the fun of picking!

Mushroom Hunting

Mushroom foraging is another tasty activity to do in the forest and it’s not just relegated to the west side of the state.

Various edible mushrooms can be found from spring to early fall and each have unique preferences for their habitat within the forest. You can find edible mushrooms pretty much all over the forest, but they’re easiest to find in cool to moderate temperatures after a good rain. If Morels are your goal, look in areas that have seen disturbance such as a burn in the last year. They tend to fruit from spring to early summer and like higher elevations, especially as the season progresses. If you missed the Morel window, Chanterelles make their appearance around September and tend to hang out through the first big frost.

One pro-tip is to pay attention to the trees: different mushrooms tend to grow near specific types of trees. For example, Chanterelles like conifer trees, like Douglas firs, while the Oyster Mushroom prefers to grow on dead trees.

Mushrooms often grow in clusters, so if you find one, look around the area for more — but don’t pick every single one, you want to leave some behind for the ecosystem. When harvesting, cut the mushroom at the base, leaving its root in place, so it will be more likely to grow back. It’s also best practice to use baskets or cloth bags so that the spores from the mushrooms you pick can spread.

As with any foraging, many plants have look-alikes, before consuming any mushrooms, make sure you know that it’s not poisonous by referencing a reputable field guide or website.

U-Pick Orchards

For a less wild, but still hands-on experience, u-pick orchards are the place to go — and Northeast Washington is home to a handful of options throughout the growing seasons. Many even have pre-picked fruit ready for you in case you just want to enjoy the goods. Be sure to check the farms’ website or social media to see exactly when fruits will be available.

Columbia View Orchard – Kettle Falls

Overlooking the Columbia River, you’ll find a sweet little farm that offers different u-pick experiences in the summer. You’ll usually find cherries available to pick late June through July and apricots in July and August. This farm also grows pre-picked blueberries, peaches, nectarines, apples, pears and onions throughout the summer.

Lucky Nine Hobby Farm – Newport

Lucky Nine in Newport offers different fruit u-pick options nearly all summer: strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries in early summer, multiple varieties of cherries mid-summer, and blackberries and red currants in late summer. Check out their home-made jams made from their fruits too!

Knight Farms Colville Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch – Colville

This farm is all over the quintessential fall activities: it offers a huge pumpkin patch to find the perfect jack-o-lantern, a massive corn maze, and treats and cider in their barn. You can pick your own fresh sweet corn starting mid-August and pumpkins in September and October. They also have multiple varieties of squash and have pre-picked produce available.

Bonus! Cut your own Christmas Tree

Foraging and frolicking is mostly a summer/fall activity, but you can still get in on the action when there’s snow on the ground by cutting down your own Christmas tree in the Colville National Forest for just $5. There’s over a million acres of forest to find the perfect tree to celebrate the holiday season. Buy your permit and maps here and don’t forget your saw.