community in Washington
Honey bee forage in River Road, Washington
Estimated forage here is better than about 76% of sites in Washington. Against other Washington sites it stands out most in spring (78th percentile) and lowest in summer (37th). Biggest nearby bee crops: corn (nearest 2.6 mi N, grown 3 of the last 5 years); alfalfa (nearest 2.7 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years); apples (nearest 3.7 mi NE).
When is the honey flow in River Road?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 16 to Jun 30, peaking late Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of River Road, 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 22.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, maples; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, spotted and diffuse knapweed; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra 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
- Corn: about 17 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.6 mi N, blooms late Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Alfalfa: about 4 acres in a typical year, nearest 2.7 mi NE, blooms late May – late Sep (grown 2 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 River Road
Mostly: Western Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; North Pacific Broadleaf Landslide Forest; North Pacific Maritime Dry-Mesic Douglas-fir-Western Hemlock Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.18 mi SE; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.26 mi S.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 80% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How River Road ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 90th | 98th | 76th | 63rd |
| Washington | 76th | 78th | 37th | 60th |
| Puget Lowland | 18th | 15th | 47th | 98th |
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 River Road: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Sequim 2 mi · Bell Hill 2 mi · Carlsborg 2 mi · Jamestown 4 mi · Blyn 8 mi · Port Angeles East 11 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 River Road (48.0677, -123.1276); 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.