city in Washington
Honey bee forage in Goldendale, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 63% of sites in Washington. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other Washington sites. Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi SE, grown 4 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Goldendale?
- First forage: Mar 16 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Aug 31, peaking early Jul (alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Oct 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Goldendale, 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 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, maples; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; white, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Fall honey (September to November): spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
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 797 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi S, blooms late Jun – late Aug (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 Goldendale
Mostly: Columbia Plateau Steppe and Grassland; Alfalfa; Fallow / idle cropland.
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.41 mi N; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.47 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 51% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Goldendale ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 82nd | 76th | 82nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 63rd | 65th | 63rd | 72nd |
| Columbia Plateau | 91st | 91st | 88th | 56th |
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 Goldendale: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Centerville 6 mi · Maryhill 9 mi · Wishram 13 mi · Klickitat 16 mi · Dallesport 21 mi · Lyle 24 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 Goldendale (45.8191, -120.8234); 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.