Crocheted Mushroom Fungi Hunt

A new outdoor art experience is turning trails into a scavenger hunt at Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center—with hand-crocheted mushrooms hidden in plain sight.

The Eagle Bluff Fungi Hunt, created by Rochester-based artist Lydia Hansen, features dozens of fiber-crafted replicas of native fungi species placed along a 0.75-mile trail loop. Visitors are invited to explore, search, and learn as they encounter each piece, paired with interpretive signage about Minnesota’s ecosystems.

The Fungi Hunt is free and open to the public daily from dawn to dusk from May 3, 2026 through October 31, 2026. Maps are available at the Schroeder Visitor Center.

A public reception to meet the artist will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 1:00–2:30 p.m. The event will include a presentation by the artist about the project, remarks from Eagle Bluff’s Executive Director on the partnership, and time to mix and mingle. Guests will also have the opportunity to hike to view the exhibit.

The reception will begin at the campfire ring on Eagle Bluff’s campus, with signage to guide guests. In case of rain, the event will be held at the Schroeder Visitor Center.

Read about the artist and the installation in this Root River Current article.