town in Colorado
Honey bee forage in Fairplay, Colorado
Estimated forage here is better than about 88% of sites in Colorado. Against other Colorado sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (34th). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.17 mi SW.
When is the honey flow in Fairplay?
- First forage: Apr 16 (dandelion, willows)
- Main flow: Jun 1 to Sep 15, peaking late Jun (clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Oct 1 to Oct 15 (fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), native wildflowers, snowberry)
- Season ends: Nov 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Fairplay, 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 Jun 18.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, willows, native wildflowers; light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, snowberry, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): native wildflowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), fireweed, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers, snowberry; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
No rated bee crops within about 3.7 miles of the town center. The forage here is wild plants, trees and gardens.
The land and water around Fairplay
Mostly: Southern Rocky Mountain Montane-Subalpine Grassland; Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest; Rocky Mountain Aspen Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.17 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.18 mi S.
How Fairplay ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 62nd | 20th | 79th | 98th |
| Colorado | 88th | 34th | 89th | 97th |
| Southern Rockies | 89th | 59th | 86th | 96th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 40% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Fairplay: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Alma 6 mi · Blue River 16 mi · Leadville 16 mi · Leadville North 17 mi · Hartsel 18 mi · Twin Lakes 19 mi
All towns in Colorado · 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 Fairplay (39.2243, -105.9984); 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.