Most likely this is a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morchella

Apparently those are very tasty if prepared well.

yea it doesn't have flies on it, so it's most likely the correct one ;)

They are often sold dried out and they are usable for filling in e. g. certain types of minced meat (especially asiatic-type thingies).

Good to know! I don't know a whole lot about mushrooms so I didn't bother to harvest it. I'll have to keep that in mind for the future, though, on the off chance I stumble upon more of them.
It's not likely, since the trail is public and fairly well-used (and I didn't see the mushroom on my way back home, although I wasn't looking super hard for it), but I suppose it's possible!

I don't know anything about mushrooms, so I didn't bother to harvest it. Maybe somebody more knowledgeable about them will stumble across it, as it was right next to the trail. Unfortunately, it was the only one in the area, so I'm not sure just how good of a meal one could make with it.

I really like how it looks, though. I hope to see more of them, and other interesting mushrooms as well. I've seen a few clusters of other types of mushrooms but they weren't particularly photogenic, and one interesting one that was up against the foot of a tree.

I've just put together an album for my mushroom photos, and I'll update the description to include it as well.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TdAbrq6iSHqc19Ma8

morels are delicious!

Good to know! I don't know much about mushrooms so I didn't bother to harvest it, but if I see more I'll have to keep that in mind.

Might be time to start carrying around a little bag or something in case I find something good. I'm not sure how well this would have held up in the pocket of my jeans, though, especially since I wound up walking several more miles that afternoon.

Remember to also carry a small folding knife to cut the mushroom, so you won't damage the mycelium underneath (there's also a technique to gently push and the stalk into the ground and twist it, but it is hard to describe, generally it is easier with a knife) - that way, if you can remember the place, you can return the following year and have a new harvest!

(Late reply, but...)
That is a good point, were I to harvest any mushrooms I know I need to leave the mycelium in place and as intact as possible so more mushrooms can grow. Unfortunately, that mushroom was growing about a foot from the trail, so chances are it was picked (or otherwise destroyed) quite quickly after I discovered it.

I don't really like mushrooms as food, but I'm only familiar with the store-bought kind, so maybe a morel would taste better to me. I mostly like mushrooms for the way they look and I'm happy that I'm starting to see some sprouting near the trail.

It might also be a good idea in general to keep a pocketknife on me while going out, maybe I should invest in a small one at some point. I just don't want to become one of those people that packs a full survival kit and a week's worth of food and supplies for a couple miles' walk on a public trail lol.