Foraging in California

2 verified locations for foraging in California. Each page includes exact permit requirements, restrictions, and what to know before you go.

2 Allowed

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Allowed

Mendocino National Forest

California, Mendocino/Lake/Glenn/Colusa·Foraging

Foraging is allowed in Mendocino National Forest for incidental personal use, capped at 1 gallon per person per month — the only Region 5 California forest in this queue with an explicit numeric limit, and far stricter than the informal 'incidental amount' rule used elsewhere. Nearly 90% of the forest has burned since 2020.

Incidental personal-use collection of mushrooms and most special forest products is free and capped at 1 gallon per person per calendar month — an explicit numeric figure, unlike the undefined 'incidental amount' standard used at Six Rivers National Forest further north
Collection beyond that requires a paid permit: $20 for up to 8 gallons over 4 consecutive days, or $50 for up to 20 gallons over 30 consecutive days

Allowed

Six Rivers National Forest

California, Del Norte Humboldt Trinity Siskiyou·Foraging

Personal-use foraging is allowed in Six Rivers National Forest at no charge for incidental amounts — but unlike Oregon forests just across the state line, there is no published gallon-per-day limit. Anything beyond incidental use needs a free-use permit capped at $20 in value per person per year.

Incidental personal-use amounts of mushrooms, berries, and most special forest products are free and require no permit
Collection beyond incidental amounts requires a free-use permit, capped at $20 in product value per person per calendar year — there is no published pounds- or gallon-per-day figure like neighboring Oregon forests use