community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Lake Cavanaugh, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 61% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (72nd percentile) and lowest in fall (13th). Biggest nearby bee crops: clover and wildflowers (nearest 3.4 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 3.3 mi S, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Lake Cavanaugh?
- First forage: Mar 1 (willows, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking late May (summer-flowering shrubs, maples, huckleberries)
- Season ends: Aug 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Lake Cavanaugh, 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 9.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): summer-flowering shrubs, maples, huckleberries, oregon grape; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Summer honey (July and August): summer-flowering shrubs, huckleberries, himalayan blackberry; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
- Fall honey (September to November): dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): summer-flowering shrubs, maples, huckleberries, himalayan blackberry; light amber, likely to stay liquid a long time
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Clover and wildflowers: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi S, blooms early May – early Sep (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi S, blooms early Jun – early 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 Lake Cavanaugh
Mostly: North Pacific Mesic Western Hemlock-Silver Fir Forest; North Pacific Lowland Mixed Hardwood-Conifer Forest; North Pacific Seasonal Sitka Spruce Forest.
Nearest mapped water: pond, lake or river 0 mi S; open water 0 mi S.
How Lake Cavanaugh ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 92nd | 77th | 13th |
| Washington | 61st | 72nd | 39th | 13th |
| North Cascades | 78th | 89th | 22nd | 7th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 71% 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 Cavanaugh: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Oso 5 mi · Arlington Heights 8 mi · Bryant 9 mi · Lake McMurray 10 mi · Arlington 12 mi · Big Lake 12 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 Lake Cavanaugh (48.3168, -122.0107); 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.