🥾 Guides: Roxy & Pierce
📅 Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ Time: 12 p.m.
📍Location: Olmos Park (Meet at the Parking Lot)
🎟️ Tickets: $7+ Member , $10+ Non-member
Family Friendly, Children 12 and younger are free.
🥾 Guides: Roxy & Pierce
📅 Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
⏰ Time: 12 p.m.
📍Location: Olmos Park (Meet at the Parking Lot)
🎟️ Tickets: $7+ Member , $10+ Non-member
Family Friendly, Children 12 and younger are free.
Become a supporting member to get discounts on walks, talks, workshops and merch.
🌟 Calling all nature lovers, fungi enthusiasts, and curious adventurers! Join us for one of our most popular hikes in Central Austin to search for one of the rarest and unusual mushroom in the world. The extraordinary Texas Star Mushroom, also known as the Devil’s Cigar (Chorioactis geaster).
This unique mushroom is a true Lone Star State treasure, found in only a handful of places worldwide—Japan, Taiwan, and right here in Texas. Known for its dramatic “hissing” sound as it opens to release its spores, this fascinating fungi is as rare as it is mysterious.
🎥 Watch the magic in action and see why this mushroom has inspired our organization's logo!
🌳 Lace up your hiking boots, grab your curiosity, and join us for a fun and educational outdoor adventure. Don't miss this chance to explore local ecosystems and experience one of nature's rarest wonders up close!
Expect:
Easy-moderate hike with various terrains
Educational program with information about the Texas Star Mushroom
1 mile round-trip
Possible cancellations due to weather
Mushroom Blocks (Angel will bring some for your to take home. Donations welcome.)
What to bring:
Water
Camera if desired
Walking Stick (to help move leaves)
Good hiking shoes, raincoat.
See the Texas Star Mushroom hiss at Inks Lake!
About The Guides
Pierce Lynch is a Graduate Research Assistant, fungal enthusiast and science communicator whose research centers on plant-fungal relationships, soil ecology, and the hidden biodiversity that sustains ecosystems. With a background in mycology and plant science, Pierce specializes in the study of endophytes—the fungi that live symbiotically inside plants. Through research, public talks, and fieldwork, Pierce helps demystify the complex, unseen networks that connect plant and fungal life.
Roxy Eguia is a dynamic and passionate advocate for water, fungi, native plants, and creative expression. As a graduate student in Water Resource Science at Texas A&M San Antonio, she explores the intersection of biotechnology and regenerative design to benefit society. In her role as a Small Business Opportunities Specialist for the San Antonio Water System, she supports local businesses in adopting sustainable water practices. Additionally, Roxy is a Mycology Lab steward at CTMS Gardopia, where she cultivates a deep appreciation for mushrooms and their ecological significance. She is particularly fascinated by mycoremediation and aquatic fungi's potential in Texas watersheds, and she frequently hosts events on mushroom cultivation, foraging, mycoremediation, and culinary uses. Roxy's work emphasizes the profound connections between water, flora, and fungi, celebrating the rich heritage of Texas, Mexico, and Indigenous cultures.