city in California
Honey bee forage in Tulelake, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 65% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in summer (99th percentile) and lowest in spring (36th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); mint (nearest 0.7 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Tulelake?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Jul 1 to Aug 31, peaking late Jul (alfalfa)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Tulelake, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on May 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, maples; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), alfalfa, mint, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 7,446 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.3 mi E, blooms early Jul – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Tulelake
Mostly: Alfalfa; Potatoes; Spring Wheat.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.08 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.32 mi SE.
How Tulelake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 67th | 45th | 81st | 67th |
| California | 65th | 36th | 99th | 95th |
| Eastern Cascades Slopes and Foothills | 76th | 71st | 84th | 68th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Tulelake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Newell 7 mi · Dorris 23 mi · Macdoel 29 mi · Mount Hebron 30 mi · Tennant 34 mi · Canby 46 mi
All towns in California · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Tulelake (41.9535, -121.4749); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.