Looking Down - Appreciating the Hidden Beauty of Nature at Pisgah National Forest, NC, USA

Hi everyone, today I would like to take you on a journey to the Appalachian Mountains in the US state of North Carolina. Recently, I did a road trip through these mountains, and I saw many amazing forests, rivers, mountains, gems, and waterfalls. I went on many hikes during this trip and discovered some very interesting natural wonders. In some previous posts, I shared some of the waterfalls I saw on this trip, which were really beautiful, but in this post I would like to do something a little different. Instead of looking up, I would like to show you some of the cool things I found on the ground, more specifically, some of the cool mushrooms I saw along the trail.

All of the mushrooms below were found on my hike around Catawba Waterfall in Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina on October 3rd, 2025 (in case any serious scientists happen to be reading). I wasn’t sure of exactly what species these were when I saw them, so I didn’t pick any. Since the hike, I have done a bit more research and will do my best to identify them. That being said, I am no mycology expert, so please correct me if you think I incorrectly IDed any of them.

The first mushroom was flipped upside down when I came across it, and I was amazed by how beautifully preserved and clean it looked with its white gills contrasting against the dark brown leaves that surrounded it. The swirl in the middle was really cool to see, and just another example of the beauty nature shows us in the small details. After some digging, I believe the species is called a White-Gilled Russula, which is apparently common to find in this area.

This next mushroom really stood out to me because it kind of reminds me of the Amanita Muscara mushroom, which is a magic mushroom that is often associated with Christmas because of its unique mythology and red top with white specks. I am pretty confident this was not an Amanita Muscara though, because this particular mushroom did not have any white specks on top. It looked cool with its shiny, bright red top though, and I wonder if it is often this shiny, or if it was just because of the rain that day. After some research, I am thinking this one might be a Red Russula, which is commonly found in this area, and would be a relative of the first mushroom I showed.

This next one looked interesting because it had a ring on its stem that looked like it might grow into a skirt, similar to what you would see on the highly poisonous deathcap mushrooms I have been warned about. I couldn’t really figure out what this one was, but it did look cool.

This mushroom looks just like Turkey Tail mushroom, which is actually well regarded in the medicinal mushroom community for its wide variety of health benefits. I wish I was more confident in this ID at the time, as it would have been really cool to try this mushroom. It is meant to be great for boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and providing antioxidants.

This next one had fallen over, and I almost missed it as its dark brown color camouflaged well with the surrounding leaves. After some research, I am glad I didn’t pick this one up because it could either be a Kuehneromyces mutabilis or a Galerina, the latter being poisonous when consumed.

I have no Idea what this one could be, but it was about the size of a golf ball and was like a rust-colored puff ball.

I am pretty sure this next one Golden Curtain Crust, which is often mistaken for Turkey Tail. After some research, I learned that if you cut this one a red liquid similar to blood will come out, which has been used as a natural pigment. I wish I knew this at the time, as this would have been cool to test out.

The final mushroom is another mystery to me, and I almost missed it because it was growing inside a fallen tree. This was a really sneaky little guy, and another reminder that nature will always surprise you if you choose to slow down and look carefully.

I hope you enjoyed this rather unorthodox post, which mostly focused on what was on the ground, rather than what was above. If you think I misidentified any of the mushrooms, please feel free to correct me in the comments, as I am always excited to learn something new.

All photos are my own. Have a great day!