Mushroom Hill Zone

Mushroom Hill Zone is the first zone in Sonic & Knuckles (7th Zone in Sonic 3 & Knuckles). A lush forest notable, as it's name would suggest, for giant mushrooms that can be used as various springs and platforms. The mini-boss of this stage wields an axe and chops sections of tree trunks to throw at the player.

other appearances
The Zone returns in Sonic the Fighters the area set up on a giant tree stump surrounded by giant mushrooms. In story mode this is the stage Espio is fought on.

trivia

 * In the Archie Comics this is Espio's native zone.