community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in summer (63rd percentile) and lowest in spring (38th). Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow, 0.23 mi N.
When is the honey flow in Hebgen Lake Estates?
- First forage: Apr 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), willows)
- Main flow: May 16 to Aug 31, peaking late Jun (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), snowberry, native wildflowers)
- Fall flow: Sep 16 to Sep 30 (snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed, native wildflowers)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Hebgen Lake Estates, 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 14.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion, native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, native wildflowers, summer-flowering shrubs, clovers: white, alsike and red; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed, native wildflowers, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), snowberry, native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; 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 Hebgen Lake Estates
Mostly: Open water; Inter-Mountain Basins Montane Sagebrush Steppe; Rocky Mountain Lodgepole Pine Forest.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.23 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.44 mi SE.
How Hebgen Lake Estates ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 41st | 22nd | 72nd | 81st |
| Montana | 61st | 38th | 63rd | 42nd |
| Middle Rockies | 75th | 78th | 76th | 37th |
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 Hebgen Lake Estates: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
West Yellowstone 8 mi · Gardiner 30 mi · Corwin Springs 32 mi · Lakeview 33 mi · Jardine 34 mi · Big Sky 34 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 Hebgen Lake Estates (44.7692, -111.1905); 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.