town in North Carolina
Honey bee forage in Lake Santeetlah, North Carolina
Estimated forage here is better than about 0% of sites in North Carolina. Against other North Carolina sites it stands out most in fall (63rd percentile) and lowest in spring (1st). Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river, less than 0.1 mi away.
When is the honey flow in Lake Santeetlah?
- First forage: Feb 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), dandelion)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to May 31, peaking early Apr (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake Santeetlah, 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 Apr 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden); 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 Lake Santeetlah
Mostly: Southern Appalachian Oak Forest; Southern and Central Appalachian Cove Forest; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.09 mi N; open water 0.1 mi N.
How Lake Santeetlah ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 19th | 61st | 13th | 24th |
| North Carolina | below the 1st | 1st | 4th | 63rd |
| Blue Ridge | below the 1st | 1st | 10th | 6th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 58% 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 Lake Santeetlah: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Robbinsville 4 mi · Fontana Dam 5 mi · Andrews 12 mi · Marble 13 mi · Murphy 21 mi · Hayesville 22 mi
All towns in North Carolina · 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 Lake Santeetlah (35.364, -83.8664); 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.