Geography
Cherrywood Orchard is nestled along the East Shore of Flathead Lake, just north of Yellow Bay, where the Mission Mountains meet Montana’s largest freshwater lake. This stretch of shoreline is known as Bear Dance, a community with deep roots in Flathead Lake’s cherry-growing history, where generations of growers have tended orchards along the lake’s edge.
A Unique Microclimate
Flathead Lake is truly special for our orchard. Its large surface area acts like a natural thermostat, moderating temperatures and releasing gentle warmth on cold nights to protect the cherry trees from deep freezes. Sitting along Highway 35 on the east shore, we’re surrounded by the beauty of the Mission Mountains and the calming presence of the lake. This unique mix of mountain air, lake-influenced climate, and ancient glacial soils creates one of the most ideal spots in the northern Rockies for growing cherries.
Those glacial soils are a gift from nature — rich in minerals, well-drained, and perfect for developing strong, healthy trees. With more than 800 cherry trees calling this place home, we’re able to grow fruit that’s packed with natural sweetness and flavor. Visitors often tell us our cherries taste noticeably better, and we believe it comes down to the care we put into the soil.
Since our family took over Cherrywood Orchard, we’ve poured our hearts into nurturing this land. We combine time-honored growing traditions with regenerative soil practices that keep the earth healthy and alive. It’s our way of honoring the past while building something lasting for the next generation — and we love sharing it with everyone who comes to visit.
