The first time I found a mushroom in the middle of winter, I almost didn’t believe it was real. Everything around me felt frozen. The woods felt still, emptied of the usual rustlings and calls of warmer seasons. And yet, there it was: a sturdy, lumpy bracket covered in a light layer of snow and moss. Against the gray landscape, it looked almost defiant, a reminder that life lingers even in the coldest months. Winter isn’t exactly known as mushroom season in Minnesota. When most people think of fungi they imagine the classic toadstools of autumn or the delicate morels of spring. But fungi are full of surprises, and some species persist long after the first frost. You just have to know where to look. At first glance, it might seem like mushrooms have vanished from the landscape, but they’re still there—tougher, quieter, and often hidden in plain sight. Unlike the soft, fleshy mushrooms that quickly decay in warm weather, winter fungi tend to have rubbery or woody textures, making them more resistant to freezing temperatures.

Where and How to Search

Finding mushrooms in winter is an exercise in patience and perspective. You won’t see them pushing through the leaf litter like they do in the fall, but if you shift your focus, you’ll start noticing them in unexpected places. I especially like to go looking for mushrooms right after fresh light snow so the fungi can contrast with the bright white of the snow. I suggest looking for mushrooms on fallen logs and decaying wood. Many winter fungi are decomposers and they work all year round to break down organic material. Looking underneath snow-covered branches is also a trick to finding them. The snow can act as insulation for the mushrooms which can help preserve the fungi just beneath the surface. They can also be found in protected microclimates. This means looking in areas near streams and dense tree cover, as these conditions can create a slightly warmer condition where fungi thrive. Tree bark is also a home for fungi in the winter. Some fungi like Witch’s Butter, can appear directly on standing trees, thriving in pockets of moisture. But beyond their surprising presence, these fungi play an essential role in keeping the forest alive, even in the coldest months.

The Role of Fungi in Winter

Even in the quiet of winter, fungi are at work, decomposing wood and recycling nutrients back into the soil. Though their presence may seem subtle compared to the vibrant greenery of spring or the fiery hues of autumn, they are important in maintaining the health of the forest year-round. Without fungi, the forest floor would be buried under layers of undecayed material, as fallen trees and dead leaves would accumulate without breaking down. Fungi act as nature’s recyclers as they ensure that essential nutrients like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus are returned to the ecosystem, enriching the soil for future plant growth. The more you learn about fungi, the more you realize how deeply interconnected everything is. Fungi are not just passive bystanders in the ecosystem—they are active participants, shaping the landscape and influencing the survival of countless other species. Even in the dead of winter, when the forest seems still and lifeless, fungi are quietly at work, sustaining the cycle of life in ways both seen and unseen.

A Different Way of Seeing

Before I started paying attention to winter fungi, I used to think of the cold months as a kind of pause—a time when nature was on hold, waiting for spring. But the more I look, the more I realize how much is still happening beneath the surface.

This mindset has shaped more than just my walks in the woods. As part of my Student Naturalist project, I’ve been illustrating a digital coloring book focused on fungi, capturing their forms and textures in a way that helps me appreciate them even more. When I draw them, I notice the way a polypore’s edges curl or how the gills of a Crimped Gill seem to fold like ruffled fabric. Observing fungi—whether in the field or on a screen—has become a way of slowing down, of paying attention to the details that are so easily overlooked. So if you find yourself restless this winter, tired of the gray skies and bare trees, try looking a little closer. Turn over a log, check the underside of a branch, and see if you can spot something unexpected. The forest isn’t asleep—it’s just waiting for you to notice.

Some of My Favorite Fungi to Find in Winter

• Amber Jelly Fungus (Exidia recisa) – A translucent, amber-colored fungus that appears gelatinous when moist.
• Bushy Lichen (Usnea strigosa) – A hardy, intricate organism thriving on bark and rocks.
• Crimped Gill (Plicatura crispa) – A small, fan-shaped mushroom with wavy gills, often tucked beneath snow-dusted logs.
• Crowded Parchment (Stereum complicatum) – A thin, shelf-like fungus growing in overlapping layers on wood, like delicate sheets of peeling paper.
• Mossy Maze Polypore (Cerrena unicolor) – A bracket fungus with intricate, maze-like pores, its tough body standing strong against the cold.
• Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) – A colorful, fan-shaped polypore known for its striking, concentric bands.
• Witch’s Butter (Tremella mesenterica) – A gelatinous, golden-yellow fungus that rehydrates after rain or snowmelt, appearing as though it has come back to life.

Each time I find one of these, it feels like a small victory—proof that even in the dead of winter, the forest is never truly asleep.