5 Berry-Picking Hikes Where You Can Forage Right Now

Where I live in the Pacific Northwest, peak summer means hiking all day in the alpine, foraging handfuls of berries along the way, and returning home to bake a delicious crisp. We’re already part of the way through berry season here, which starts in July and stays strong through September and sometimes even into October. There’s still plenty of fruit left on the bushes—and not just in the northwest.

The first rule of wild berry picking is to be absolutely confident in what you’re collecting before you eat it, especially considering wild berries don’t always look like the ones you find in cartons at the grocery store. Some areas require permits or have limits for foraging, so know the rules before you head out. Either way, it’s good berry-picking etiquette to take only as many as you plan to eat to avoid depleting the supply, as animals rely on berries for food. Always maintain a safe distance from snacking wildlife, and look out for bugs and bees feeding on the juicy fruits.

Not every year produces the same bounty of wild berries. The quantity and quality varies based on rainfall, shade to sun ratio, temperature, and more. But this year, before summer ends, you’re sure to find wild berries on these five trails, recommended by hikers from coast to coast.

Berry Pickers’ Trail, Maine

For more than a century, local residents have used the Berry Pickers’ Trail on Saddleback Mountain to harvest edible wild berries. This 8-mile round trip starts from the Fly Rod Crosby multi-use trail and turns around at the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, though you could continue your hike if you’re feeling ambitious. In the closed canopy forest steps from the trailhead, you might spot bright-red bunchberries, which are blandly flavored but used in medicinal teas. Farther along the trail, look for blueberries, lingonberries, and the rare cloudberries, which are all foragable through late summer.

Pitcher Mountain, New Hampshire

If berry-picking is your one and only mission, head to the Pitcher Mountain loop trail in Stoddard with empty baskets. This hike is less than a mile, making it perfect for kids, but you can spend hours plucking blueberries and raspberries off bushes at the summit through late summer. Up there, the views are comparable to the peak’s 4,000-foot neighbors—just without the glute burn. There are no limits or permits required, so you can pick enough for a few pies.

Nine Mile Recreation Area, Wisconsin

Less than two hours northwest of Green Bay, the Nine Mile Recreation Area features over 30 miles of well-maintained and easily-accessible trails across 4,800 acres of mixed uplands, marshes, and water impoundments. Starting in late summer and through fall, hikers will find plump wild blackberries, blueberries, and chokecherries hanging from bushes along the trails. Park at the Chalet building at 221700 Red Bud Road to access the main trailhead and continue down one of the core paths that loop various distances through the forest.

Chain Lakes Loop, Washington

With 1,820 feet of elevation gain and big views of Mt. Baker, the 6.5-mile Chain Lakes Loop is already a bucket-list hike, made better by trailside snacking on wild blueberries in late summer. After dropping down Herman Saddle, look for blueberry bushes in the grassy meadows between Iceberg and Hayes lakes. For more berry hikes, peruse the Washington Trails Association’s trip reports and click the “ripe berries” filter to see what hikers are foraging lately. You can also usually find huckleberries and salmonberries in Washington through early fall depending on the area.

Umbrella Falls and Sahale Falls, Oregon

All across the state, berry pickers take to the forests for handfuls of Oregon’s natural delights. You can easily find blackberries, salmonberries, thimbleberries, and blueberries. But huckleberries may be the most sought after. They thrive between 3,000 and 6,000 feet, like on the 3.4-mile hike to Umbrella and Sahale falls on Mt. Hood. Look for patches of the small, round berry in forests and in meadows through September. A free permit is required from the Forest Service. Pick one up at the Zigzag Ranger Station and ask them for their secret spots while you’re at it.