Mushrooms and fungi

In this gallery, you will find images of the mushrooms and fungi found in the Sierra Nevada.

Though they are small and often go unnoticed, fungi and mushrooms are vital to the ecosystem. They are the decomposers that transform dead material into soil from which new plants can grow.

Mushroom identification can be tricky but it can also be quite fun to see how many different variations you can locate while on a hiking trip! Get a sense of the fungi diversity in these forests by checking out our gallery.

Sierra Puffball

Image 18 of 22

Also known as the sculptured puffball, these balls have distinct pyramid-shaped warts. You can find these in the spring and summer under conifer trees.