city in Michigan
Honey bee forage in Cheboygan, Michigan
Estimated forage here is better than about 66% of sites in Michigan. Against other Michigan sites it stands out most in fall (97th percentile) and lowest in spring (43rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: clover and wildflowers (nearest 1.3 mi SW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.9 mi S, grown 2 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.2 mi S, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cheboygan?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (clover/Wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cheboygan, 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 27.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, clover/Wildflowers, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clover/Wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, clover/Wildflowers, garden flowers; 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
- Clover and wildflowers: about 145 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi SW, blooms late May – late Oct (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 9 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.1 mi S, blooms early Jul – late 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 Cheboygan
Mostly: Open water; Laurentian-Acadian Alkaline Conifer-Hardwood Swamp; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.21 mi SE; pond, lake or river 0.39 mi NW.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 67% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cheboygan ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 78th | 60th | 80th | 96th |
| Michigan | 66th | 43rd | 66th | 97th |
| Northern Lakes and Forests | 96th | 33rd | 97th | 99th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 37% 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 Cheboygan: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Carp Lake 14 mi · Levering 15 mi · Indian River 16 mi · Pellston 16 mi · Mackinac Island 17 mi · Mackinaw City 17 mi
All towns in Michigan · 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 Cheboygan (45.6419, -84.4688); 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.