Sunset - William O'Brien State Park, Minnesota

Month by month

Marine on St. Croix in July

Peak summer: the parade on Judd Street, swimming at Lake Alice and sandbar picnics.

Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

81°Faverage high
65°Faverage low
3.52 inprecipitation10 wet days
8hot daysreaching 85°F or more
15.2 hdaylightsunrise 5:36 AM · sunset 8:56 PM

What July is like

July is the warmest month and the busiest one. The Fourth of July parade fills the village with people, and the river is warm enough for swimming from sandbars (never in the main current). Prairie flowers peak on the upland savanna and dragonflies patrol every wetland. Afternoons can be hot and humid, so plan outdoor time for mornings and evenings.

In July, Marine on St. Croix averages a high of 81°F and a low of 65°F. It is the warmest month of the year and the sunniest. Expect about 3.5 in of rain spread over roughly 10 wet days. On average 8 days reach 85°F or warmer. Days last about 15.2 hours, with roughly 12.7 hours of sunshine.

The river in July

Long-term average flow at St. Croix Falls in July is 4,249 cfs — close to the yearly average.

Best things to do in July

Based on climate normals and when wildlife is most often recorded, July is a good month for: paddling the st. croix, swimming at lake alice, hiking, wildflowers, birding, butterflies & dragonflies, mushrooms.

  • Watch the Fourth of July parade — arrive early and park outside the center.
  • Paddle from William O’Brien to Marine and picnic on a sandbar.
  • Swim at the Lake Alice beach, if it’s open.

What to pack

  • breathable clothing
  • sun hat and sunscreen
  • plenty of water
  • insect repellent (ticks and mosquitoes are common in woods and wetlands)

Events in July

Wildlife to look for in July

Species with a large share of their local iNaturalist records in July. The strip shows each species' records across the year.

Birds

Chukar

Chukar

Alectoris chukar

2 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) rickhowie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Northern Bobwhite

Northern Bobwhite

Colinus virginianus

2 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Andrej Chudý, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

Northern House Wren

Northern House Wren

Troglodytes aedon

62 local records · peak May

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Bird Explorers, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Bird Explorers

Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

Geothlypis trichas

42 local records · peak May

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) bwood708, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by bwood708

Plants & wildflowers

Michigan lily

Michigan lily

Lilium michiganense

25 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Ben VanderWeide, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ben VanderWeide

fringed loosestrife

Fringed loosestrife

Lysimachia ciliata

23 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) er-birds, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by er-birds

pointed-leaved tick-trefoil

Pointed-leaved tick-trefoil

Hylodesmum glutinosum

67 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) hermelin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Creeping Bellflower

Creeping Bellflower

Campanula rapunculoides

13 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Amy Guala, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Amy Guala

Mushrooms & fungi

Small Funnel-Veil Amanita

Small Funnel-Veil Amanita

Amanita multisquamosa

2 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Freya, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Freya

Powder Cap

Powder Cap

Asterophora lycoperdoides

3 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Joseph D. Cohen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Joseph D. Cohen

Silky Rosegill

Silky Rosegill

Volvariella bombycina

3 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY)

Blue Tooth

Blue Tooth

Hydnellum caeruleum

4 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Kari Pihlaviita, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

Insects & butterflies

Blue-fronted Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Argia apicalis

26 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Michael Bok, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hummingbird Clearwing

Hemaris thysbe

13 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) cgbb2004, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by cgbb2004

Halloween Pennant

Halloween Pennant

Celithemis eponina

17 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) geosesarma, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by geosesarma

Northern Pearly-eye

Northern Pearly-eye

Lethe anthedon

19 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Josh van der Meulen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Josh van der Meulen

Mammals

Eastern Cottontail

Eastern Cottontail

Sylvilagus floridanus

48 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Kala Murphy King, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), uploaded by Kala Murphy King

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

256 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) jefferykarafa, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by jefferykarafa

American Black Bear

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

26 local records · peak June

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Craig K. Hunt, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Craig K. Hunt

Common Raccoon

Common Raccoon

Procyon lotor

34 local records · peak June

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Kat Halsey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Kat Halsey

Reptiles & amphibians

Northern Leopard Frog

Northern Leopard Frog

Lithobates pipiens

66 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Stylurus, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)

American Toad

American Toad

Anaxyrus americanus

83 local records · peak May

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Alex Shure, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alex Shure

Green Frog

Green Frog

Lithobates clamitans

60 local records · peak July

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) suburbirder, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by suburbirder

Eastern Milksnake

Eastern Milksnake

Lampropeltis triangulum

13 local records · peak September

JFMAMJJASOND

(c) Carrie Seltzer, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Carrie Seltzer