There are trains to work. Trains to airports. Trains that take you across countries. In Estonia, someone who knows Estonians well looked at the railway network and thought: Could this get us to the mushrooms? The answer is yes. The Mushroom Express is back!

Throughout September, Estonia’s Mushroom Express (Seeneekspress) is helping eager foragers swap railway platforms for forest paths, with more than 30 mushroom forests, exhibitions and events marked on a special map. There are also guided mushroom hikes where experts can help with the important distinction between delicious dinner and regrettable life decision. Frankly, we approve.

The Mushroom Express is a collaboration between passenger rail operator Elron, the State Forest Management Centre (RMK), the Estonian Museum of Natural History, the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, and Tartu Nature House.

The idea is wonderfully simple: take the train, get off at one of the selected stations and head towards nearby state forests where particular types of mushrooms are likely to grow. And the possibilities are surprisingly extensive.

Around Klooga, pine forests may yield mushrooms including kitsemamplid and pilvikud. Near Riisipere, wetter forests are suggested territory for chanterelles and boletes. Aegviidu gets the rather confident description of having some of Estonia’s best mushroom spots, while further south, forests around Elva may offer milk caps, chanterelles and boletes.

There is one potential complication: the mushrooms have not signed up. Neither Elron nor RMK promises that anyone will actually return with a full basket. Which is why you should do your mushroom homework.

Before you imagine stepping off a train, wandering three metres into the forest and immediately discovering enough chanterelles for dinner, there are a few practical matters. As nature information specialist Liis Soonik rather magnificently pointed out to ERR, you won’t find mushrooms between the railway tracks.

• RMK recommends checking maps before setting out and using its nature app to work out where the forests actually begin.
• Foragers are also advised to wear sensible footwear and brightly coloured clothing, carry a fully charged phone and tell someone where they are going.
• A white bucket is recommended because it can be spotted from a distance if you become lost.
• And, obviously, don’t eat mushrooms unless you know what they are. That part is less cheeky.

For anyone whose mushroom identification skills currently consist of brown one, red one, suspicious-looking one, September also brings expert-led mushroom hikes and exhibitions.

Guided outings are scheduled from railway stations including Klooga, Taevaskoja, Tõravere and Saku, while Aegviidu hosts several mushroom events during the month. Mushroom exhibitions are also being held at the RMK Aegviidu Visitor Centre, Estonian Museum of Natural History in Tallinn, University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, and Tartu Nature House. Which means that even those who prefer their mushrooms labelled, professionally identified and safely separated from the possibility of accidentally poisoning themselves can participate.

There is another reason we rather like this idea. Nobody can guarantee mushrooms. You might come home with chanterelles. You might find a boletus worthy of family-group-chat glory. You might find absolutely nothing except damp socks. But you’ve still caught a train somewhere, walked into an Estonian forest and spent a few hours looking closely at what is growing beneath your feet. And perhaps that is part of the point.

So if you’re in Estonia this September, grab a basket, check the map and climb aboard. Next stop: possibly dinner.

Mushroom Express highlights

Guided mushroom outings

5 September — Klooga and Aegviidu
12 September — Taevaskoja
13 September — Tõravere
19 September — Aegviidu Mushroom Day
26 September — Saku and Aegviidu

Mushroom exhibitions

1–30 September — RMK Aegviidu Visitor Centre
10–20 September — Estonian Museum of Natural History, Tallinn
11–13 September — University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden
15–19 September — Tartu Nature House

The Mushroom Express map includes forests near railway stations across several rail directions, with suggested mushroom species and approximate walking distances from each stop.

For the Mushroom Express map, event details and updated information, visit the Elron Seeneekspress website.

Read more

Mushroom train to cater to Estonia’s foraging enthusiasts this fall | News | ERR
Sõida seenele, rongiga! | Elron – In Estonian
The Mushroom Express launches at Rapla railway station | Elron
Lähme seenele! Let’s go mushrooming! | HEIA