Mushroom picking in the Moscow region: where to go for a quiet hunt and when the mushrooms will be in season in 2024

Mushrooms

The Moscow region is a favorite area for mushroom pickers. This area is renowned for its diversity of mushrooms. From the early warm days of spring until late autumn, you can find numerous spots where you won't be able to leave empty-handed. But this is a large area, so if you decide to go mushroom picking, you need to know when the mushroom season will be in the Moscow region in 2024 and where to look for the best mushroom spots.

Mushrooms growing in the Moscow region

Mushroom-picking areas in the Moscow region are rich in all types of mushrooms, from the most common to the rarest. However, poisonous ones are also found. To pick mushrooms in the forest, you need to know not only where they grow but also which species are edible and safe for humans.

It is worth remembering!

Mushrooms are not plants; they belong to the class of living organisms called spore-forming fungi, so they can be dangerous. Inedible mushrooms contain toxins that can cause poisoning and even death.

The most mushroom-rich areas of the Moscow region boast a wide variety of edible mushrooms. Among them are the renowned porcini mushrooms, the delicious milk mushrooms and birch boletes, the common morels and fiddleheads, and many others.

You should be wary of the following types of mushrooms: fly agaric, death cap, satanic mushroom, entoloma, russula emetica, champignon agaric, grey float, panaeolus, false chanterelle, and common stinkhorn.

When will the mushrooms start?

Mushroom picking in the Moscow region is possible in 2024 during any season, from May to December. However, if you're aiming to collect a large number of mushrooms or a specific species, you should do so in accordance with the growing season, not just the weather conditions and season. Experienced mushroom pickers head to the forest during the periods specified in a special calendar.

Mushroom picker's calendar (main types of mushrooms)

Reproduction	Weak (-)			Mass (+)
View	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Whites		+	—	+	—	+	+	+	—
Aspen mushrooms		—	+	+	+	+	+
Boletus mushrooms		—	+	+	+	+	+
Butterlets		—	—			+	+	+	—
Boletus mushrooms			—	+	+	+	—
Chanterelles			—	+	—	+	—
Champignons			—	+	+	+	—
Honey mushrooms		—	—	+	+	+	+

Depending on the specific subspecies of each fungus, the timing of reproduction may vary. Most spore-forming organisms begin to reproduce abundantly after rainfall, when the necessary moisture conditions are created. Some species prefer dry conditions, and therefore experience significant growth during dry periods.

Where to go mushroom picking

If you're planning a vacation and combining it with mushroom picking, you don't need to prepare. However, it's not a good idea to head out to the Moscow region, which is known for its vastness, without first getting your bearings. Experienced mushroom pickers already know the areas that will yield a good harvest, while beginners should familiarize themselves with recommended destinations (you can even find mushroom spots on a regional map online).

Yaroslavl direction

When traveling toward Yaroslavl, you'll need to travel 1 kilometer or more. It's recommended to keep track of the distance between platforms and populated areas.

Directions to mushroom spots from the platform:

Sofrino - 3-4 km to the west of Voronino;
True - 1-2 km from the railway to the east to Nazarievo/to the west to Stepankovo;
Semakhoz - 2-3 km from the railway to the south towards Morozovo/to the west towards Shapilovo;
Zelenogradskaya - 2 km west of Darino;
Kalistovo - 3-4 km to the west towards Artemovo/to the east towards Golygino;
Ashukinskaya - 4-5 km to the west towards Martyankovo and Voronino;
Abramtsevo - 4-5 km west of Akhtyrka and Zhuchki.

When setting out on a trip, you need to take a map of the Moscow region with you and plan your route in advance.

Belarusian direction

For years, mushroom pickers have confirmed that the most abundant mushroom zones are located 10 kilometers from Petelino. The main movement should be along the rivers toward Zvenigorod.

Areas of abundant growth in movement from platforms:

Zhavoronki - 1 km south to Dachnoye, Mitkino and Malye Vyazma or 2 km north of the railway to Nazarievo;
Khlyupino - 1-2 km to the southwest to the railway through the forest to Alyaukhovo or to the northeast to Goryshkino;
Skorotovo - 2 km to the north to Dunino or to the east to Chigasovo;
Zvenigorod - 1-2 km to the east in the direction near Maryino or to the west near Klopovo and along the Ostrovka River;
Petelino - 2-3 km to the south of the railway in a forest area to the Kyiv highway.

Riga direction

Many mushroom pickers note the abundance of mushroom spots in the Riga area. While you can get there by public transport, it's much more convenient to travel by car.

Movement to mushroom places to populated areas from the platform:

Opalikha - 2-3 km from the railway to the north to Saburovo, and also along the river bank/to the south to Nikolskoye-Uryupino;
Nakhabino - 4 km to the north towards Kozina and along the river banks;
Pavlovskaya Sloboda - 2 km to the southeast of Stepanovskoye;
Dedovsk - 3-4 km north of the railway near Nikolo-Cherkizovo and Turovo;
Snegiri - 1-2 km on both sides of the railway in the direction north to Eremeyevo and south to Zhevnevo;
Hollyhocks - from 1 km to the south in forests and along river banks;
Yadroshino - 1 km to the north to Kursakovo-Markovo/3 km to the south to Troitsa or Novo-Daryino;
Kursakovskaya - 2 km to the east of Kursakovo-Markovo;
Rumyantsevo - 2-3 km to the northeast towards Rybushki, Dolevo and Savelyevo, along the rivers.

Mushroom places are also located in forested areas to the north of the Ustinovka and Lesodolgorukovo platforms in the direction of the villages of Maryino and Nudol-Sharino.

Interesting fact!

The most abundant mushroom areas can be found in the Novo-Nikolskoye area, two kilometers from the Opalikha station, as well as on the banks of the Banka River.

Leningrad direction

The Leningrad Highway area is considered one of the regions with the most abundant growth of russula, milk mushrooms, chanterelles, and saffron milk caps.

Direction from the platform:

Podrezkovo - 1.5 km south of the railway to Korostovo and Ivanovskoye;
Firsanovka - 1.5 km north to Nazarievo and Klushino/3 km west to Ruzino near Pyatnitskoye Highway;
Alabushevo - 2 km from the railway to Maryino and Andreevka;
Povarovo - 2-3 km to the west into the forests to the Istrinskoye reservoir;
Berezki - 1-2 km in both directions from the railway in the direction of Snopovo and Kochergino;
Golovkovo - 1.5 km north of Ermakovo;
Pokrovka - 1-2 km to the north towards Koskovo and to the south towards Zamyatino.

Many mushroom pickers, traveling along the Leningradskoye Highway, prefer to stop in Khimki or Minino, or go to Elena, where the area is rich in porcini mushrooms.

Savelovsky direction

Mushroom pickers won't regret heading to the Savelovsky area. The area here is predominantly forested. The mushrooms bloom abundantly after rainfall, closer to autumn.

Direction of movement oriented from the platform:

Lobnya - 3 km to the east of the railway to the Pyalovskoye reservoir;
Nekrasovskaya - 1 km west of Ozeretskoye;
Catuar - 2 km to the west;
Iksha - 2 km to the west towards Rtishchevo and Khoroshilovo;
Morozki - 1.5 km to the west towards Grigorkovo and 2 km to the east towards Sboyevo;
Tourist - 4 km west to Dyachkovo.

In the direction of Savelovskaya, among the coniferous and mixed forests, you can find butter mushrooms, milk mushrooms, and chanterelles.

Kazan direction

Those who enjoy combining outdoor recreation with mushroom picking can head to the forests in the Kazan region. Mushroom pickers recommend starting in the villages of Minino, Danino, and Ignatievo Station.

Directions to mushroom patches from platforms:

Shevlyagino - 2 km north to Shabanovo and Averkovo;
“64 km” - 4–5 km from Kolomino and 5–6 km south to Turygino;
Antsiferovo - 1-2 km south of Sobolevo and along the right bank of the Nerskaya.

In this area, mushroom pickers will find a good "harvest" of butter mushrooms, noble porcini mushrooms, and delicious birch boletes.

This is interesting!

There's a myth that boiling poisonous mushrooms causes the water to turn blue. However, the coloring is actually due to hydrocyanic acid, which is much more common in edible mushrooms.

Kiev direction

You should start your journey from Beksovo station, heading south or east from the platform. Many mushroom pickers, not traveling by car, also get off at Rassudovo and Alabino stations.

Movement from the platform:

Pobeda - 1 km on both sides of the railway to Kalugino and Sanniki;
Rassudovo - 2-3 km to Glagolevo, Ignatovo or Kuznetsovo;
Dachnaya - 2 km towards the forest near Timonino and Svitino;
Selyatino is 2 km closer to Syryevo;
Bekasovo - 1-2 km southeast to Monutovo and Ivanovka;
Babushkino - throughout the wooded area near the railway.

Kursk direction

Mushroom hunting in the deciduous forests along the Kursk route yields the most delicious and abundant mushroom species. However, many "false" species also grow, so caution is advised.

Directions to seats from platforms:

Lvovskaya - 2-3 km to the southeast towards Ivino;
Grivno - 3 km to Kharitonovo and Berezhki;
Chekhov - 1-2 km to Oksino, Maksimikha and Alachkovo;
Beam - 4–5 km to the west near Milyachino and Popovka;
The vanguard is 2–3 km to the east towards Vskhody, and along the banks of the Lopasnya and Rechma rivers.

Among the deciduous forest there is an abundance of aspen mushrooms, the beloved milk mushrooms and black mushrooms.

Paveletsky direction

One of the mushroom spots in the Paveletsky direction is considered to be the birch forest near the Privalovo and Belye Stolby stations.

Moving from platforms:

Vzletnaya - 3 km to the west beyond Redkino, Yusupovo or Bityagovo;
Vostryakovo - to the south of Zabor'e or 3 km to the west of the railway;
Privalovo - 2-3 to the east towards Kishkino or Konstantinovskoye/to the west near Sidorovo or Nemtsov;
Mikhnevo - 2-3 km to the east towards Ignatievo or Vasilyevskoye/to the west near Usada or Razinkovo;
Shugarovo - 3–4 km west to Zavarykino or Torbeevo.

Ryazan direction

When traveling along the railway tracks, you can stop directly at the Lukhovitsy or Shurovo stations.

Directions from platforms:

Konev Bor - 1 km to the east of Klimovka or Shelukhino;
Faustovo - 3–4 km north of the railway;
Bronnitsy - 5-6 km to the north-east, not far from Plaskinino or Biserovo;
Sands - 4-5 km near Novosyolki or Bredniki.

The area isn't particularly rich in mushroom diversity. Mostly, you'll find birch boletes or gray polypores.

This is interesting!

If you want to harvest an environmentally friendly mushroom "harvest," you should travel at least 2 km from the railway, and no closer than 50 km from Moscow. It's recommended to travel 300-500 m from the road.

Tips for Beginner Mushroom Pickers

Many mushroom pickers look not only for mushroom spots on a map, but also for information about which species grow in specific areas and when they are best picked.

Finding mushrooms in the Moscow region in May 2024 isn't actually all that difficult. Of course, button mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, and milk mushrooms don't grow during this period, but you can find other species. Morels are the first to appear. Look for them in deciduous forests. Morels are followed by puffballs, which grow in meadows and fields. As summer approaches, oyster mushrooms can also be found among brushwood and wood.

In the forests near Moscow, mushrooms begin to be picked in June as early as the first half of the month. During this period, boletus (in birch forests) and butter mushrooms (in pine forests) begin to actively grow. In the second ten days, porcini mushrooms begin to bloom.

Mushrooms in July are more diverse. In the first half of the month, saffron milk caps, porcini mushrooms, and russula mushrooms are harvested. The second ten days are particularly productive in mixed and coniferous forests, where pig mushrooms, milk mushrooms, and chanterelles grow.

The greatest abundance begins in late summer, so experienced mushroom pickers continue to gather mushrooms into August. During the rainy season, it's easy to find full baskets of russula, saffron milk caps, porcini mushrooms, butter mushrooms, milk mushrooms, and other mushrooms in the forests.

Mushrooms continue to grow in September. The August species continue to grow in the first ten days, and by the end of September, milk mushrooms, honey mushrooms, birch boletes, white mushrooms, and porcini mushrooms appear. The growth period for these mushrooms lasts until the end of October.

By November, many mushroom pickers have stopped heading into the forests to pick mushrooms, but there are still plenty of them. Honey mushrooms, porcini mushrooms, and butter mushrooms can still be found in the forests until early December.

Please note!

There are many rules for mushroom picking. If you want to become a mushroom picker, you need to not only study the mushroom map of the Moscow region, learn which spore-bearing species are dangerous and which are not, but also learn how to prepare them properly. Cases of poisoning often occur due to improper preparation of mushrooms.

Mushroom picking isn't just about finding a tasty treat; it's also a pleasant pastime. Furthermore, fresh air and contact with nature are always beneficial for human health.