What September is like
September is the quiet sweet spot: the crowds of summer are gone, humidity fades and the sumac on the savanna turns scarlet. After rain it is prime mushroom season, and hawks begin migrating south along the river valley. Water is still warm enough for paddling early in the month.
In September, Marine on St. Croix averages a high of 72°F and a low of 56°F. Expect about 3.4 in of rain spread over roughly 8 wet days. On average 2 days reach 85°F or warmer. Days last about 12.5 hours, with roughly 9.7 hours of sunshine.
The river in September
Long-term average flow at St. Croix Falls in September is 3,432 cfs — 24% below the yearly average, so sandbars appear and the current is gentle.
Best things to do in September
Based on climate normals and when wildlife is most often recorded, September is a good month for: paddling the st. croix, hiking, wildflowers, mushrooms.
- Hike the prairie and savanna loops as grasses turn gold.
- Look (don’t pick without expert help) for chicken-of-the-woods and other fall fungi.
- Take a late-season paddle on a calm afternoon.
What to pack
- light layers for cool mornings
- rain jacket
- insect repellent (ticks and mosquitoes are common in woods and wetlands)
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