city in Idaho
Honey bee forage in Idaho City, Idaho
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Idaho. Against other Idaho sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in fall (30th). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, 0.16 mi SW.
When is the honey flow in Idaho City?
- First forage: Mar 16 (willows, dandelion)
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (snowberry, willows, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Idaho City, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): willows, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, native wildflowers, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): snowberry, willows, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 Idaho City
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna; Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Middle Rocky Mountain Montane Douglas-fir Forest and Woodland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.16 mi SW; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.2 mi NE.
How Idaho City ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 70th | 57th | 80th | 66th |
| Idaho | 85th | 94th | 69th | 30th |
| Idaho Batholith | 84th | 98th | 54th | 20th |
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 Idaho City: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Placerville 10 mi · Robie Creek 14 mi · Garden Valley 19 mi · Horseshoe Bend 19 mi · Lowman 20 mi · Crouch 21 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 Idaho City (43.8278, -115.8305); 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.