city in Montana
Honey bee forage in Kalispell, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 98% of sites in Montana. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Montana sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: canola (nearest 1.3 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 0.7 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); lentils (nearest 1.8 mi N, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Kalispell?
- First forage: Apr 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Sep 30 (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Kalispell, 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 21.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, garden flowers, canola; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, canola; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, 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, alfalfa; 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
- Canola: about 357 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.3 mi NW, blooms early May – late Jul (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi NW, blooms late Jun – late Oct (grown 3 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 Kalispell
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, medium intensity.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.27 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.33 mi SE.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 87% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Kalispell ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 86th | 69th | 85th | 97th |
| Montana | 98th | 100th | 93rd | 91st |
| Northern Rockies | 94th | 94th | 73rd | 97th |
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 Kalispell: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Evergreen 3 mi · Batavia 5 mi · Helena Flats 6 mi · Forest Hill Village 8 mi · Rhodes 8 mi · Kila 9 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 Kalispell (48.2162, -114.3276); 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.