Many of the Northwest’s best patches of mountain huckleberries are on public lands like the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, North Cascades National Park, and Mount Spokane State Park in Washington; the Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon; the Idaho Panhandle National Forests; and the Lolo National Forest in Montana.
Are huckleberries ready to pick in Washington State?
About Huckleberry Picking in Washington
You’ll most likely want to keep an eye out for the thin-leaved huckleberry; these are known to be the sweetest. The best time to come pick these tiny treats is between mid-August and mid-September.
Where is the best place to pick huckleberries?
The Coeur d’Alene mountains are especially known for their great quantity of huckleberries. Most people’s strategy is to pick a hiking trail, like the lengthy Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and follow it until you spot a berry bush! When it comes to berry picking, it doesn’t get much better than Northern Idaho.
Where can I pick huckleberries in Mt Rainier?
MOUNT RAINIER NATIONAL PARK
Seven varieties of huckleberry grow in the park. There are good picking areas along the Noble Knob Trail at the north edge of the park and Indian Henry’s Hunting Grounds on the southwest side of the mountain, which is known for its sweet berries.
Where can I pick huckleberries in Spokane WA?
Mt. Spokane State Park and Priest Lake have some great picking, even at lower elevations. The Washington Trails Association also suggests the Salmo-Priest loop (Selkirks), Panjab Trail (Blue Mountains), and Kettle Crest South (Okanogan Highlands).
Where can I find salmonberries in Washington?
As a somewhat “viney” shrub, the very common salmonberry is found in moist to wet forests from sea-level to rather high elevations in the West Coast mountains, and is restricted natively to Washington, Oregon, Northern California, parts of Idaho, British Columbia and parts of Alaska.
Where can I pick salmonberries in Washington?
Church Creek. A sampling of the berries you’ll find along Church Creek trail. Photo by Nutmeg. With early-season salmonberries down low and huckleberries galore lining this out-of-the-way trail, Church Creek is a delight for collecting delectables.
What state is known for huckleberry?
BOISE, Idaho — Thanks to an idea from a group of North Idaho fourth graders, the huckleberry was officially adopted as Idaho’s state fruit by the state legislature in 2000.
How do you harvest wild huckleberries?
Berries can be picked by hand or with a huckleberry “rake” that gently sifts the berries into a bucket while leaving the leaves on the bush. Collected berries are placed in a bucket or locking-top cooler. After harvesting, berries should be sorted to remove stems and leaves, with care taken to avoid tearing the skin.
How long is huckleberry season?
Huckleberries ripen in mid- to late-summer and typically reach their peak in August. One of the best places to pick fresh huckleberries is near Glacier National Park. August is typically huckleberry season, and you can find tips on where to find them around Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Where can I find elderberries in Washington?
In Central Washington and into the shrub-steppe of the Columbia River Basin you can find Saskatoon berry, rowan berry and blue elderberry.
How do you know when huckleberries are ripe?
Harvest them when they are dark black, slightly soft, and dull instead of shiny. Unripe berries are bitter while ripe ones are sweet, so taste a few if you aren’t sure. They become sweeter if you leave them on the bush a few extra days.
Where can I pick huckleberries in Coeur D Alene Idaho?
For a day trip, head up into the Coeur d’Alene National Forest via either Fernan Road or Blue Creek Road near Wolf Lodge. From these roads you can access some of the Forest Service roads that will take you up to where the berries grow fierce.
Where can I pick huckleberries in northern Idaho?
The Priest Lake area is known for its abundance of huckleberries. Many factors such as elevations, rip- ening seasons and climate contribute to a good berry site. The best berry picking is usually found along aban- doned logging roads, and in old burns.
Are huckleberries ripe in Idaho?
Huckleberries typically ripen between July and September in the McCall area. To clean your huckleberry haul, pour them in a large bowl and cover them with water. Any stems and leaves that may remain will float to the top and be skimmed off.
Can you eat raw huckleberries?
Ripe huckleberries are fairly sweet with a little tartness. Though they can be eaten fresh, they’re often made into tasty beverages, jams, puddings, candies, syrups, and other foods.
Do cloudberries grow in Washington state?
The berries were everywhere there, he says, so it was a pleasant surprise when he recently discovered them growing around areas like Mount Pilchuck, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the foothills of the North Cascades above 5,000 feet in Washington state.
Are salmonberries and cloudberries the same?
cloudberry, (Rubus chamaemorus), also called salmonberry, yellowberry, bakeapple, bakeberry, malka, or baked apple berry, creeping herbaceous plant in the rose family (Rosaceae), native to the Arctic and subarctic regions of the north temperate zone, and its edible raspberry-like fruit.
Can you forage in Washington state parks?
-State Parks: The non-commercial harvest of nonmarine edible plants and mushrooms for personal consumption is allowed on all land managed by Washington State Parks except natural area preserves.
Where can you forage in Washington state?
Other Useful Foraging Sites
FORAGER: PNW AREA – BELFAIR, PENINSULA, MT RAINIER, TACOMA, SEATTLE AREAS. Your easiest bet is to contact Charlies Produce in Seattle. They distribute throughout western Washington to chefs who are seeking any kind of foraged items including all types of mushrooms.
Can you eat red huckleberry?
Red huckleberries are edible and widely used today for pies, jams, jellies, and are frozen or canned. A wine can be made from the fruit. Red huckleberries are quite tart, so some people prefer the blue huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum). The berries can be dried, mashed, or pressed for juice.
Lorraine Wade is all about natural food. She loves to cook and bake, and she’s always experimenting with new recipes. Her friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of her culinary skills! Lorraine also enjoys hiking and exploring nature. She’s a friendly person who loves to chat with others, and she’s always looking for ways to help out in her community.