MUSHROOM PICKING IN MADRID AREA

of them allow picking. The Spanish law establishes that private owners and regional authorities/

who possess a given territory, can regulate such issues as picking mushrooms and other things on

their land. Besides, there are territories that have the status of Reserva or the Zone of Maximum

Protection. Here mushroom picking is strictly forbidden.

If we are to forget about those inaccessible locations, Madrid area still has a lot of green areas,

where you can easily enjoy picking mushrooms. So here are some of these places, all of them are

about an hour away from Madrid.

This is one of the most popular places among mushroom pickers. Here you will find numerous

boletes (aka penny bun) and oyster mushrooms. The village is located by the Lozoya River, and here

you can not only get a good mushroom harvest but also enjoy walking around some of the most

picturesque places, for instance, in the oak forests.

This is another territory on the North of Madrid, also popular with mushroom pickers. Apart from

boletes and oyster mushrooms, you can also find false champignons, saffron milk caps, and many

others. Here you will also see some of the most impressive mountain spots, including the waterfall

Chorrera de Mojonavalle which is particularly impressive in winter, when it freezes.

Another great spot for mushroom lovers. The most common mushrooms here are saffron milk caps

and champignons. If you come here, you will get a basket full of mushrooms as well as enjoy a

walk in beautiful forests, the most famous of them are pinares (the forests of the Mediterranean

stone pines) and a visit to the Monastery of Paular.

This mushroom place is situated in Sierra de Guadarrama, almost on the border with Segovia.

Mainly you will find here saffron milk caps. The views that you see here are worth mentioning too

as this area is located between two valleys.

Another great spot for picking boletes and saffron milk caps. Situated close to the border with

Avila, this territory is famous among mushroom pickers for the abundance of mushrooms as well as

the richness of plant diversity.

Whatever place you decide to go, you should remember that there many types of inedible

mushrooms. If you decide to pick up a mushroom that you are not familiar with you’d better put it

separately from those you are sure about. It is better to cut mushrooms carefully instead of pulling

them out of the ground so as not to damage the spawn. And better if you eat mushrooms fresh.