city in Washington
Honey bee forage in Cle Elum, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 72% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in fall (85th percentile) and lowest in spring (69th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 1.4 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Cle Elum?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, willows, maples)
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jul 31, peaking late May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Cle Elum, 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 20.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, maples, willows; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, snowberry, summer-flowering shrubs, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, snowberry; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, snowberry, summer-flowering shrubs; 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
- Alfalfa: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi SE, blooms late Jun – late Oct (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 Cle Elum
Mostly: East Cascades Mesic Montane Mixed-Conifer Forest and Woodland; Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0.13 mi SW; open water 0.13 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 56% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Cle Elum ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 87th | 82nd | 84th | 81st |
| Washington | 72nd | 69th | 76th | 85th |
| North Cascades | 87th | 85th | 63rd | 76th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 31% 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 Cle Elum: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
South Cle Elum 1 mi · Ronald 5 mi · Easton 10 mi · Roslyn 10 mi · Thorp 16 mi · Cliffdell 19 mi
All towns in Washington · 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 Cle Elum (47.1946, -120.9528); 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.