Olympic Peninsula Mycological Society

The Olympic Peninsula Mycological Society (OPMS) is a nonprofit, volunteer organization dedicated to learning about and enjoying wild mushrooms and their environments.  It was originally founded in 1977 as the Jefferson County Mycological Society.

Now, most members are from Jefferson and Clallam counties in Washington State, from Brinnon to Port Angeles, but the society is open to anyone.  OPMS holds six meetings during the year to discuss business and wild mushrooms.  Usually there is a guest speaker for a specific topic, but sometimes the meetings are devoted to hands-on identification of specimens that members bring to the meeting.

The November meeting is devoted to mushroom preparation and cooking demonstrations.  Meetings alternate between the Tri-Area Community Center in Chimacum and the Gardiner Community Center.

In addition to the six meetings, OPMS conducts at least two forays for wild mushrooms for its members each year.  In the spring we go into the Cascade Mountains in search of black morels and other spring mushrooms (snow mushroom, pink-tipped coral, boletes).  A second foray is in the fall to the eastern Olympic Mountains for golden chanterelles, russulas, boletes, hedgehogs, and matsutake (or the pine mushroom).

In October of each year, OPMS produces its annual Fall Wild Mushroom Show that is free and open to the public.

Annual dues are $15 per family or $10 per single person.

Currently, we have about 170 members. OPMS produces at least two newsletters each year and usually six.

Upcoming Events

Our next meeting is May 14
Gardiner Community Center
980 Old Gardiner Road,
Sequim, WA 98382

Doors open at 6:30 p. m. for mushroom identification and socializing. The meeting starts at 7:30.

Our program will include a report by OPMS member Cathy Shoaf on using mushrooms for dyeing fibers.
OPMS members are encouraged to collect specimens for use in the next dyeing workshop.

  • Here is a list of species our dyers can use.

    • Hapalopilus nidulans
    • Hydnellum spp.
    • Hypholoma hispidus
    • Lactarius deliciosus
    • Paxillius atromentosus
    • Paxillius schweinitzii
    • Pholiota incarnata
    • Thelephora palmata
    • Tricholompsis rutilans
    • Boletus appendiculatus
    • Bulgaria inquinans
    • Cortinarius cinnamomeus
    • Cortinarius croceus
    • Cortinarius fervidus
    • Cortinarius malicorius
    • Cortinarius sanguineus
    • Cortinarius semisanguineus
    • Fomes fomentarius
    • Gymnopolis penetrans
    • Gymnopolis spectabilis
    • Boletopsis grisea
    • Hapalopilus rutilans
    • Phaeolus schweinitzii
    • Pizolithus arhizus

  • Mycological Societies

    For more information write:
    O.P.M.S.
    P. O. Box 33
    Chimacum, WA 98325

    You can contact OPMS by e-mail at this address: