community in Montana
Honey bee forage in Trout Creek, Montana
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Montana. Against other Montana sites it stands out most in spring (98th percentile) and lowest in fall (8th). Nearest mapped water: open water, 0.19 mi N.
When is the honey flow in Trout Creek?
- First forage: Mar 16 (willows, dandelion)
- Main flow: May 1 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (snowberry, clovers: white, alsike and red, willows)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Trout Creek, 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 17.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): willows, snowberry, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed, native wildflowers, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): snowberry, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): snowberry, willows, dandelion, 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 Trout Creek
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.19 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.2 mi N.
How Trout Creek ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 64th | 54th | 78th | 58th |
| Montana | 85th | 98th | 76th | 8th |
| Northern Rockies | 41st | 67th | 8th | 55th |
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 Trout Creek: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Noxon 14 mi · Belknap 15 mi · Thompson Falls 20 mi · Heron 24 mi · Happys Inn 26 mi · Saltese 29 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 Trout Creek (47.8342, -115.5837); 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.