Regions · Minnesota

Southeast Minnesota (Driftless) Morel Season

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· Part of the Minnesota morel season guide

Southeast Minnesota is where the state's season usually starts. The bluff-and-valley country along the Mississippi warms ahead of the Twin Cities and central Minnesota, and its slopes give you different warm-up times within one walk. [S1][S2]

Counties this page covers

Houston, Fillmore, Winona, Wabasha, Goodhue and Olmsted, plus the bluff edges of Dodge and Mower. [S1] (Editorial region definition built around the DNR's Paleozoic Plateau / Blufflands area. [S2])

Typical timing vs. the rest of Minnesota

AreaTypical windowNotes
SE Minnesota / Driftlessfirst finds about May 1–5, main window about May 5–18Earliest in the state [S1]
Twin Cities metromain window about May 10–22[S1]
Central Minnesotamain window about May 15–28Can run into early June [S1]

These are typical ranges from past seasons, not a promise for next spring.

Soil and weather cues

  • Watch for soil near 50°F and rising for several days. See the soil temperature guide. [S3]
  • Rain on warming ground is the usual trigger. See how long after rain. [S4]
  • Slope matters here. South- and west-facing bluffs warm and dry first; north- and east-facing slopes stay cooler and moister. [S2] Since conditions differ from slope to slope, it pays to check more than one exposure on a walk.

Trees and terrain

  • Terrain: the DNR describes this area as a rugged region of bluffs and valleys, cut by the Root, Whitewater, Zumbro and Cannon rivers and blanketed with loess. [S2]
  • Valley bottoms: silty valley floors historically carried forests of basswood, sugar maple, black maple, elm, bur oak, black ash and walnut. [S2] Elm and ash in these bottoms are prime spots. See dead elms & ash. [S1][S5]
  • North- and east-facing slopes: mesic forest with oak up top and basswood and sugar maple downslope. [S2]
  • Mississippi floodplain: silver maple and river birch forests. [S2]
  • Dead ash: emerald ash borer has been in Minnesota since 2009, adding dead ash to the mix. [S1]

Public land and rules

  • State parks: the DNR allows picking mushrooms for personal use with no permit. [S6]
  • State forests: small personal-use amounts need no permit. Large amounts or any sale need a permit. [S7]
  • WMAs: the rule allows only edible fruits, seeds and decorative plant parts for personal use. Mushrooms aren't listed, so ask the area wildlife office. [S8]
  • Limit: No published statewide limit. [S6]
  • Selling to food businesses: you must register with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture as a Certified Wild Mushroom Harvester. [S9]
  • Private land: always get the landowner's permission.
  • Rules change, check before you go.

Public land in the region includes state parks and the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, which takes in bluff land along the Mississippi in southeast Minnesota. State forest rules above apply. [S10] We don't list specific spots.

Beginner pointers

  • Don't damage the plant, nearby plants or the soil, and leave some for others. [S6]
  • Carry a mesh or paper bag, not plastic.
  • Learn to tell true from false morels and get ID help from experts. See true vs. false morels. This page makes no edibility claims.

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FAQ

When do morels start in southeast Minnesota?

First finds usually come around May 1–5, ahead of the Twin Cities. [S1]

Is the Driftless earlier than the Twin Cities?

Usually by about a week during the main window. [S1]

Which slopes should I check first?

The DNR notes that south- and west-facing bluffs are warmer and drier, while north- and east-facing slopes stay cooler and moister. Conditions vary by slope, so check a few. [S2]

Can I pick in Minnesota state parks?

Yes, for personal use, with no permit. Rules change, check before you go. [S6]

Can I pick on WMAs?

Mushrooms aren't listed in the WMA rule, so ask the area wildlife office first. [S8]

Related

Minnesota morel seasonDead elm morel treesMorels after rainSoil temperature and morels

Sources

See how conditions look near you today.

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