community in Washington
Honey bee forage in Loon Lake, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 50% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in fall (69th percentile) and lowest in spring (49th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.1 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); sunflower (nearest 1.9 mi SE, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Loon Lake?
- First forage: Mar 16 (willows, dandelion)
- Main flow: May 16 to Jul 31, peaking early Jul (snowberry, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Oct 15
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Loon Lake, 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 18.
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, clovers: white, alsike and red, native wildflowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): snowberry, alfalfa, spotted and diffuse knapweed, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, likely to set within weeks to a few months
- Whole season (March to November): snowberry, dandelion, willows, 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
- Alfalfa: about 18 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.1 mi NE, blooms late Jun – late Oct (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Sunflower: about 3 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.9 mi SE, blooms early Jul – early Sep (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 Loon Lake
Mostly: Northern Rocky Mountain Ponderosa Pine Woodland and Savanna; Northern Rocky Mountain Dry-Mesic Montane Mixed Conifer Forest; Open water.
Nearest mapped water: open water 0.13 mi E; pond, lake or river 0.15 mi E.
How Loon Lake ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 76th | 59th | 83rd | 69th |
| Washington | 50th | 49th | 66th | 69th |
| Northern Rockies | 70th | 76th | 53rd | 77th |
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 Loon Lake: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Clayton 6 mi · Springdale 6 mi · Valley 8 mi · Deer Park 11 mi · Chewelah 15 mi · Suncrest 17 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 Loon Lake (48.0704, -117.6257); 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.