city in Idaho
Honey bee forage in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
Estimated forage here is better than about 79% of sites in Idaho. Against other Idaho sites it stands out most in spring (96th percentile) and lowest in summer (47th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 2.1 mi W); dry beans (nearest 3.3 mi NW, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Coeur d'Alene?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Coeur d'Alene, 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 12.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, dandelion, snowberry; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, lindens / basswood; extra 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
- Alfalfa: about 927 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.1 mi W, blooms late Jun – early Oct (grown 5 of the last 5 years)
- Dry beans: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NW, blooms late Jul – early Sep (grown 1 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 Coeur d'Alene
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Open water.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.62 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.88 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 99% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Coeur d'Alene ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 65th | 62nd | 72nd | 80th |
| Idaho | 79th | 96th | 47th | 54th |
| Northern Rockies | 45th | 84th | 1st | 88th |
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 Coeur d'Alene: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Dalton Gardens 2 mi · Huetter 3 mi · Fernan Lake Village 3 mi · Hayden 5 mi · Hayden Lake 5 mi · Post Falls 7 mi
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 Coeur d'Alene (47.7029, -116.7958); 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.