Cortinarius californicus
Family Cortinariaceae · Updated October 2026
65US records
6states
Novbusiest month
65 US records since 1931 (14 in the last 10 years)
Last seen Nov 24, 2025 (about 11 months ago) near Brooktrails, Mendocino County, CA, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from California, Washington and Oregon, and the busiest months are Nov, Dec and Oct. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)
⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
☠ Dangerous genus. The genus Cortinarius includes webcaps containing orellanine. Mushrooms in this group have caused serious or fatal poisonings.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.
When it's recorded
Records by month, all years. Busiest: Nov, Dec, Oct.
Where it's recorded
| State | Records | Latest sighting |
|---|---|---|
| California | 41 | Nov 24, 2025 |
| Washington | 13 | 2013-10 |
| Oregon | 8 | Nov 12, 2016 |
| Idaho | 1 | Sep 6, 1964 |
| Kansas | 1 | Apr 20, 2005 |
| Alaska | 1 | Aug 10, 1998 |
Top counties
- Mendocino County, CA (25) · latest Nov 24, 2025
- Del Norte County, CA (5) · latest Dec 8, 1965
- Humboldt County, CA (5) · latest Nov 25, 2021
- San Juan County, WA (5) · latest Oct 28, 1984
- Thurston County, WA (4) · latest Oct 8, 2010
- Lane County, OR (2) · latest Oct 22, 1938
- Columbia County, WA (2) · latest Sep 21, 1984
- Boundary County, ID (1) · latest Sep 6, 1964
- Yuba County, CA (1) · latest Dec 3, 1983
- Tuolumne County, CA (1) · latest Nov 12, 1983
More on this species from GBIF.
Bring along
🍄
Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon🍄
Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon🍄
Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon🍄
10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon🍄
Spore print paperSee on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.