Yachats Mushroom Treasure Hunt Returns to Wilds of Oregon Coast Forest Trails

Published 01/28/26 at 5:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Yachats, Oregon) – The wilds of Oregon coast's backwoods just got a little more civilized – and yet still more thrilling. Your chances of finding cool little glass or crocheted art pieces in the region just got higher.

Mushroom Treasure Hunt season has returned to Yachats, running through February 28. This, however, is not on the beaches but on the forest trails behind Yachats.

This Yachats Mushroom Treasure Hunt features new twists for winter explorers. Each Saturday, four handcrafted mushroom sculptures are hidden along local trails, with clues released at 10 a.m. Organizers say the hints will be more challenging this year, offering only a general area rather than precise directions after last season’s treasures were found almost immediately.

People, apparently, got too good at it.

After the mushrooms are hidden each Saturday morning, the chamber posts clues on the Yachats Mushroom Treasure Hunt website and on Instagram at @visit.yachats.

Also different: these are mushroom-shaped goodies. Not glass floats like Gold Beach and Lincoln City, Not messages in bottles as in Bandon, nor stuffed toys or elves. These are the iconic fungi that populate the section of coastline.

Participants are encouraged to enjoy the quieter Oregon coast months, when rain gear, warm socks, and the golden, moisture-rich atmosphere define the winter landscape. The chamber emphasizes staying on designated trails and respecting both private property and the surrounding forest while searching.

The weekly hunt began in 2023 as an experiment and has quickly blossomed into a distinctive local tradition. Unlike Lincoln City’s glass float drops, the Yachats treasures are placed along trails, sometimes reaching as far as Heceta Head. The volunteer “trail gnomes” responsible for hiding them are known for their dedication and sense of adventure.

This season features creations from three local artists. Paris Birdwell Designs is contributing colorful glass mushrooms with swirling patterns. Billow Cloud Soaps is crafting mushrooms from its signature saltwater soap blend. Swallows Nest Homemade is adding hand-crocheted mushrooms to the mix.

Also see: 2026 Beachcombers 'n Glass Float Expo Brings Real Glass Floats to Washington Coast - Feb 14 through March 8 they're dropped; Expo at Ocean Shores, March 7-8

"All three artists are making original one of a kind, collectible shrooms with the hope of bringing smiles and encouraging adventure to be a year round endeavor," organizers said.

They are intended as an invitation to walk, breathe, and reconnect with the subtle beauty of the region’s forests and shoreline, they said.

https://www.yachats.org/the-yachats-mushroom-treasure-hunt-is-on/ 541 547 2345

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