Head to the Forest – How to Enjoy Your First Mushroom-Picking Trip in Finland

Mushroom picking is one of Finland’s most beloved autumn traditions, and for good reason. Wandering in the forest relaxes the mind, fresh air clears the head, and with a bit of luck you’ll return home with a basket full of delicious treasures.

If you’re a foreigner living in Finland and want to experience this truly Finnish way of enjoying nature, don’t hesitate, just go! Here’s a clear and inspiring guide to help you prepare and make the most of your first mushroom adventure.

Before You Go

1. Bring a Friend Who Knows Mushrooms

The best thing you can take with you is a friend who knows their mushrooms. They can show you what to pick and what to leave behind. Some mushrooms in Finland are deadly poisonous, so only pick the ones you are absolutely sure are edible.

In many parts of Finland, local associations also organize guided mushroom-picking excursions where you can safely learn to identify local mushroom species yourself.

If you’d like to explore nature in Nuuksio and need more information or perhaps a wilderness guide, contact the Finnish Nature Centre Haltia, located right at the gateway to Nuuksio National Park. At Haltia, you’ll find staff from Finland, Naturally, who know the area inside out and provide visitor information and advice for those coming to Nuuksio. You can also find our staff at Koli National Park, in the Koli Nature Centre Ukko.

• Finland, Naturally Experiences Nuuksio
• Finland, Naturally Experiences Koli

2. Choose the Right Time and Start Early

In autumn, daylight fades surprisingly fast — especially under the forest canopy. That’s why it’s best to head out early, for example on a free morning. You’ll have plenty of daylight and the peace of the forest mostly to yourself.

3. Pick a Good Spot

Great mushroom forests can be found all around Finland, even close to cities. From Helsinki, for instance, you can easily reach Nuuksio or Sipoonkorpi National Parks by bus — both offer plenty of mushrooms and well-marked trails.

What to Pack for a Mushroom-Picking Trip

Here’s what you should take with you for a safe and enjoyable mushroom-picking trip:

• Basket or cloth bag – Mushrooms stay fresh and can breathe; avoid plastic bags and containers.
• Mushroom knife – Mushrooms are gently pulled from the ground with your fingers. A knife helps trim off dirty or worm-eaten parts, and the small brush on the tip is perfect for cleaning the surface.
• Snacks and water – You’ll get hungry. Coffee or tea and sandwiches taste especially good in the forest!
• Weather-appropriate clothing – Finnish autumns can be cool and damp, so dress in layers.
• Rubber boots or waterproof shoes – Trails and mossy areas can be wet.
• Map or phone with GPS – Even though Finland is safe, it’s easy to lose your sense of direction in the woods. Note that even in places as close to Helsinki as Nuuksio, there are areas with no mobile signal. If you think you might get lost, it’s best to stick to smaller forests.
• Small first-aid kit – Bandages and tweezers can come in handy.
• Mushroom guidebook or app – A great help for identifying species, especially for beginners.

Identifying and Picking Mushrooms

• Only pick mushrooms you can confidently identify as edible. If you’re unsure, leave it be.
• Popular and easy-to-recognize edible mushrooms in Finland include:
  • Chanterelle – a golden treasure of the forest with a distinct aroma and trumpet-like shape.
  • Craterellus tubaeformis (Trumpet Chanterelle) – a late autumn favorite often found in mossy spruce forests in clusters.
  • Boletus edulis (Porcini) – a thick-stemmed, meaty mushroom highly prized for its flavor.

Gently twist or pull the mushroom from the ground, clean off dirt and debris, and place it carefully in your basket. Leaving the underground mycelium intact ensures future harvests.

Practical Tips

• Pause every now and then. Listen to the silence and enjoy the calm of the forest.
• Take photos before picking, so you can later check the identification if needed.
• Leave no trace. Keep nature clean, as Finland’s Everyone’s Rights also come with responsibilities.

When you return home, clean your mushrooms right away and use them fresh or dry them for later. Classic Finnish autumn dishes include chanterelle sauce, porcini risotto, and trumpet-chanterelle pie — all excellent ways to share a taste of Finnish nature with your friends.

Read next

What to do in Finland in Autumn? Here is a Wonderful 10-Item Bucket List for You!

In the Finnish Woods: Finding Wellbeing for Body and Brain

The Soothing Silence of the Woods – Forest Bathing in a Finnish Spruce Forest

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