🥾 Guides: Sam the Fungi
📅 Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
📍Location: Landa Park at Panther Canyon Nature Trail
🎟️ Tickets: $7+ Member , $10+ Non-member
Family Friendly, Children 12 and younger are free.
🥾 Guides: Sam the Fungi
📅 Date: Sunday, December 6, 2026
⏰ Time: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
📍Location: Landa Park at Panther Canyon Nature Trail
🎟️ 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
My name is Samuel McChesney aka SamtheFungi. I was born and raised in Central Texas and have always been an outdoorsy person. I started really delving into the seemingly endless depths of fungi around 2017/2018 and gathering with the Central Texas Mycological Society, helping out at the research station at Circle Acres in partnership with Ecology Action to remediate a brownfield using spent mushroom blocks. That's where the fungi started flowing and the hyphae-nation consolidated within me. My mission as SamtheFungi, human inspired mycelium, is to end Mycophobia, transform Mycostigma, and connect people to the power of Mycelium! Whoohoo
My-self-ium currently runs a small farm on 13 acres out in Harwood Texas where i'm working on a foundation of Fungi to approach land care holistically through the lens of Mycelium.
I also work with the land regeneration specialists at SymbiosisTx.com designing and installing food forests and water infiltration structures for generations to come.