Editing Wii Mushroom Gorge

|appears_in=''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'' ([[List of games by date#2008|2008]])<br>''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' ([[List of games by date#2011|2011]]) <br>''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' (2022)<br>''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' ([[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]], Wave 2) (2022)

|online_play=No longer available ([[Wii]])<br>{{hover|Available|Will no longer be available for the 3DS starting in early April 2024}} ([[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]], [[Nintendo Switch|Switch]])

'''Mushroom Gorge''' is the third course of the [[Mushroom Cup]] in ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. The course is located on a mountainous zone with tall [[Mushroom Platform]]s rising over cloudy [[pit]]s. Racers travel the course mainly on land; however, on a part of the course, they enter a cave where they find a pit full of [[Mushroom Trampoline]]s, which are mushrooms the racers use as platforms. Players can drive two different ways over these mushrooms to cross the cave. Red Mushroom Trampolines cause drivers to bounce, so players can do a [[trick]] while they are in the air to get a small boost of speed later. The green-capped Mushroom Trampolines, however, do not cause vehicles to bounce. Some [[Goomba]]s appear serving as obstacles on the track.

The background music of this course is available as a selectable music track on the [[Mario Circuit (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U)|Mario Circuit]] stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', and on any ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' stage in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'', as well as [[Battlefield]], Big Battlefield, Small Battlefield, and [[Final Destination]] as of the version 8.1.0 update of the latter. A court based on Mushroom Gorge appears in ''[[Mario Tennis Open]]'', called [[Mushroom Valley]].  

[[File:MushroomGorge-Start-MKWii.png|thumb|230px|left|Toadette in the beginning part of the track]]

The track begins on a dirt road with [[Mushroom Trampoline]]s and [[Mushroom Platform]]s in the background. There is a slight turn to the right and another to the left, which brings racers to a wooden bridge that curves right. After that, there are [[Item Box]]es for the player to take and a jump with a single red Mushroom Trampoline, hanging over an abyss.

After that, there is a left turn in which the player can choose a longer path with Item Boxes and [[Dash Panel]]s or the shorter path with Mushroom Trampolines, which is the path that CPUs usually take. After this is an entrance into a cave, in which the road turns left and into an abyss with Mushroom Trampolines and Platforms all over. The player has two paths to take, and both involve the use of the Mushroom Trampolines in the cave. [[Item Box]]es also appear in the cave.

After exiting the cave, there is a left U-turn around an abyss. Goombas are on this part of the track, which act as obstacles. After passing the Goomba section, the player reaches is the [[Finish Line (object)|finish line]].

====Shortcuts====

[[File:MKW Mushroom Gorge Mountain Glitch.png|thumb|[[Daisy]] grinding on the mountain]]

In Mushroom Gorge, there is a shortcut that allows the player to speed past the regular curving route and get a boost. It can be performed without a mushroom (by jumping over the thinnest part of the grass and turning slightly right after bouncing off the first Mushroom Trampoline). After starting the race, the player should head to the left through an area with no fence and use a mushroom boost (or jump) to drive off the cliff and bounce off the Mushroom Trampolines below, landing on the bridge. This shortcut is utilized in a [[List of Mario Kart Wii glitches#Mushroom Gorge Cave Lap Glitch|glitch]] where racers turn around and bounce off the first Mushroom Trampoline and lean back to climb on the cliff, moving left for a while before being dropped onto the track before the finish line. Because of this, the deliberate shortcut and two Mushroom Trampolines were removed in ''Mario Kart 7''. These Mushroom Trampolines return in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'', but if the player attempts this glitch, Lakitu will simply pull them back to where they last were on the track.

Also, by the last U-turn, if the player cuts across the grassy patch with some sort of speed boost and doesn't fall into the crevice, there is a time gain of a second or two. Players can also use a mushroom and jump across the gap itself. It is also possible to bounce off the final Mushroom Trampoline on the left side of the cave and climb on the left wall and get onto the other side of the gap; a Mushroom boost is required. In ''Mario Kart 7'', this can be done with the glider, but is much harder and costs time.

[[File:MushroomGorgeMK7.png|thumb|left|225px|Mushroom Gorge in ''Mario Kart 7'']]

Mushroom Gorge makes its classic course debut in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' as the third race of the [[Shell Cup]]. Due to graphical limitations, the Mushroom Trampolines are flat and larger than in ''Mario Kart Wii'', and most of the ones in the background have been removed. The arrows at the first split paths have been changed from brown to red. Some of the Dash Panels have been shifted around, with an extra one being added to the first split track section, and the one on the right at the split paths has been moved forward.

[[File:MKT Wii Mushroom Gorge View 2.jpg|thumb|250px|View of the course]]

Mushroom Gorge returns in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'' as a [[classic course]] starting from the [[Mii Tour (2022)|2022 Mii Tour]]. It is the third Wii course to be included in the game and the first since [[Wii DK Summit]] in the [[Snow Tour]] twenty-seven tours prior. The course has received a graphical update. The starting line has been redesigned into a stone archway with the modern ''Mario Kart'' logo. Most Mushroom Trampolines have been restored to the background. Certain elements, like the elevation of the Mushroom Trampolines and the types of ramps used in some locations, had to be changed to accommodate for ''Mario Kart Tour''{{'}}s physics; there is also an additional Mushroom Trampoline in the cave section compared to the ''Mario Kart 7'' incarnation of the track. Players can also now perform Jump Boosts by dropping off Mushroom Platforms. There is no longer a Dash Panel on the first or second ramp of the course. One of the three [[Goomba]]s near the end of the course has also been removed.

The course also appears as '''Mushroom Gorge R''' (reversed), '''Mushroom Gorge T''' (with ramps), and '''Mushroom Gorge R/T''' (reversed with ramps). The former two debuted alongside the normal variant in the [[Mii Tour (2022)|2022 Mii Tour]], while the latter debuted in the [[Mii Tour (2023)|2023 Mii Tour]]. In all three variants, the number of mushrooms is significantly reduced; in the R variant, the only mushrooms remaining in the cave are blue mushroom trampolines. In the R/T variant, a [[Glide Ramp|glide ramp]] is placed at the left path after the cave.

[[File:MK8-Course-Wii MushroomGorge.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Mushroom Gorge in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'']]

Mushroom Gorge reappears in ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]]'' as part of the second wave of the [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]. It is the third course of the [[Propeller Cup]]. It uses its appearance from ''Mario Kart Tour'', albeit with graphical updates. The yellow road is now orange. Additionally, several features of the original ''Mario Kart Wii'' version of the track that were not in the ''Mario Kart 7'' and ''Mario Kart Tour'' versions return in this game, such as the shortcut at the beginning with two lower Mushroom Trampolines appearing leading up to the bridge (though the first mushroom now requires the aid of a [[Mushroom]] or a [[Super Star]] to reach it), along with the ability to jump across the gap at the last U-turn of the track using a speed boost. The mushrooms in the cave section are placed at different elevations again, like the versions prior to ''Tour'', and the layout of the mushrooms in the cave section is now based on the original version, albeit with the green Mushroom Platform on the left path being replaced by another Mushroom Trampoline, as well as replacing one of the mushrooms with ''Mario Kart 7''{{'}}s glider mushroom.

One of the red mushrooms on the right side of the split path before the cave was removed. Several [[Toad (species)|Toad]]s and [[Koopa Paratroopa]]s have been added as spectators on the course, and the eagles from [[Shy Guy Falls]] are visible flying above the track. Some Toad spectators are seen sitting, standing, jumping and waving on top of some Mushroom Platforms. The mushroom shortcut at the beginning of the course is now shown on the minimap. In a similar vein to {{classic-link|Wii|Grumble Volcano}}, {{classic-link|3DS|Neo Bowser City}}, and {{classic-link|3DS|DK Jungle}}, the music is almost the same as the original Wii version, save for the addition of a reverb effect and different mixing, which notably makes the backing guitar louder and adjusts the volume of certain sections of the song. Additionally, the final lap version of the music is much faster compared to the normal version (as well as the final lap version of the Wii, 3DS and Tour renditions) than other retro courses.

**[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]] "''Bouncing and pulling tricks off the red mushrooms is crazy fun, but it's tricky to keep your car out of the chasms.''"

**[[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]] "''Bounce your way through an underground cavern on top of giant mushrooms that double as trampolines. Whatever route you take, just make sure you land safely!''"

*'''[[Prima Games|Prima]] Guide:''' "''This is the first course to offer a multitude of tricks, as well as precarious edges and bottomless drops to avoid-or jostle your opponents into! The trick here is to figure out the quickest route when the course branches into two different paths, all the while avoiding the roaming Goombas, staying on the dirt track, and using the famous giant mushrooms as trampolines!''"<ref>Hogson, David. 2008. ''Mario Kart (Wii): Prima Official Game Guide'', pg 44.</ref>

*'''Trading Card bio:''' ''"Get ready for some precision mushroom-bouncing action on this track! Upon entering the cavern, staying to the right seems to be the path most racers will travel. However, taking the path to the left will surely allow you to get a better shot at scoring a useful Item from the plentiful Item Boxes."''

*'''Nintendo Switch News app (US)''':

**''This course first appeared in the Mario Kart™ Wii game.''

**''The course is a mountainous area with lots of mushrooms sprinkled throughout the landscape.''

**''There are many Trampoline Mushrooms along the track. The key is to use your Jump Boost on these to get a small mid-air speed boost.''

*'''Nintendo Switch News app (UK)''': '''''Bounce your way to victory - introducing Mushroom Gorge!'''<br>This course first appeared in the Wii title Mario Kart Wii and takes place in mountainous terrain sprouting with all sorts of fabulous fungi. It even features lots of mushrooms that work like trampolines, bouncing you into the air when you drive over them and giving you ample opportunity to utilise Jump Boosts for an extra kick of speed. That's a little tip for you - be sure to use it to your advantage!''

MKWiiBooster.png|A [[Dash Panel]]

MKT Icon MushroomGorgeWii Toadette.png|The course icon with Toadette

MKT Icon MushroomGorgeRWii Toad.png|The course icon of the R variant with Toad

MKT Icon MushroomGorgeTWii CatToad.png|The course icon of the T variant with Cat Toad

MKT Icon MushroomGorgeRTWii PenguinToadette.png|The course icon of the R/T variant with Penguin Toadette

==Names in other languages==

|Fra=Gorge Champignon

|FraM=Mushroom Gorge