Huckleberry picking season is happening now and we’ve got the juicy details on these delicious berries and where you can find ‘em!

All about that Berry

Huckleberries are found in the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest and sought after by thousands of berry pickers every year--those looking to sell at local farm and fruit stands to individuals wanting their own prized stash. Huckleberry bushes grow in the underbrush of forests and mountainous areas but can be found alongside lakes and streams in higher elevations. Like Morell mushrooms, huckleberries grow well in areas burned by wildfire but often won’t produce fruit the year following a burn. Native Americans were the first to harvest huckleberries for medicinal purposes and food gathering, often drying them to store over the winter months. Early settlers procured huckleberries from Native Americans by trade and subsequently learned the harvesting process. Later, commercialization of the berry created the consumer products you see today like candles, lotions, and soaps as well as huckleberry flavored candies, sauces, jams, baked goods and even beer!

Related to the blueberry, there are over 12 species of native and non-native huckleberries found throughout the Pacific Northwest and over 7 species found in Montana. When ripe, different species produce different colored berries ranging from a reddish-purple to a dark blue-purple. Berries are often the size of pea but can be as small as a piece of grain and the more picking you do, you’ll begin to notice the subtle differences in color and size. Taste is subjective but many describe them as not as sweet as blueberry but not as tart as a cranberry, somewhere in between.

Keep in mind, huckleberries aren’t just loved by people, wildlife also enjoy munching on these plump berries for their taste and for survival purposes. In fact, they’re a favorite snack for Black and Grizzly Bears so be bear aware when out picking!

Where to Find ‘em

While it is possible to purchase frozen berries year round from local farm and fruit stands the best way to get them is fresh off the branch! If you’re new to picking and you ask a seasoned picker where their favorite spot is, chances are, they’ll tell you its a secret but don’t worry we’ve got the scoop on a few areas for your first picking adventure!

Huckleberries can easily be found in many of Western Montana’s state parks, along hiking trails or ski slopes, and even campgrounds. In Missoula, if you head up to Snowbowl Ski Mountain, there’s a hiking trail where plenty of huckleberries can be found along the steep mountainside. The Seeley-Swan area, just about an hour’s drive from Missoula, has plenty of areas for berry picking as well. Here a few sweet spots in that area:

How to Pick ‘Em

Once you locate a patch with plenty of ripe berries, find a spot to sit get to pickin’! While there are tools to aid in berry picking, such as a rake, the preferred method of picking is by hand. The use of rakes is often controversial because if used improperly, tend to accumulate more leaves than berries and can damage the unripe berries on the bush. In earlier times, some Native American tribes made rake-like tools to aide in harvesting but they perfected the use of the tool to maximize berry gathering and minimize damage to unripe berries. Rule of thumb, stick to picking by hand unless you have a seasoned picker show you the proper way to pick with a rake.

These delicate berries take time to pick so plan to spend at least one hour to harvest a decent amount of berries (a quart, more or less). Most people bring plastic ziploc baggies to store them in while picking, primarily because they take up less room if you’re hiking somewhere to pick. After you’ve harvested your batch of berries, make sure you refrigerate them for more immediate use or you can freeze or dry them for later.

When to Pick ‘em

Now is the time! Almost entirely undomesticated and no huckleberry farms to date, this delicious little berry has a short harvesting season. Depending upon where you pick, you can find plump, ripe berries from mid-July to mid-September, but you’ll want to go early in the season so you don’t miss out!

What to make with ‘em

Any recipe that calls for blueberries can be substituted with huckleberries and huckleberries are great with just about anything! Below are a few popular huckleberry recipes. Want more huckleberry everything? We’ve listed a few local places below where you can get your huckleberry fix.

Local business serving up huckleberry goodness

Big Sky Brewing Company — Huck It! beer or Huckleberry Spiked Seltzer
Big Dipper Ice Cream — Huckleberry Ice Cream
Florence Coffee Company — Huckleberry Smoothie
Montana Tea & Spice Trading LLC — Mountain Huckleberry Tea

Sources: https://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr657.pdf

Explore Montana: Huckleberry Picking