Skip to main content
LakeQuality
A wave breaking on the cobble beach of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, with a wooded headland beyond

Butterfield Lake Water Temperature

Butterfield Lake in Crow Wing County, Minnesota typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September — warmest in Jul (~77°F) and coldest in May (~61°F). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

Typical in September
65°F
Cool
Summer average
75°F
Warmest (Jul)
77°F
Coldest (May)
61°F

Typical water temperature by month

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
61°
May
72°
Jun
77°
Jul
75°
Aug
65°
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (61°F) to its warmest (77°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 78 field readings (2016–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. Months with too few readings are left blank.

Is Butterfield Lake warm enough to swim?

At its summer peak (~75°F): Comfortable

Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.

Want more than temperature? Butterfield Lake water quality: clarity, algae, phosphorus, depth, fish species, and current advisories, all on one page.

Where to stay near Butterfield Lake

Planning a swim or lake trip? Compare cabins, lodges, and vacation rentals near Butterfield Lake — live availability and prices. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Butterfield Lake

Prices for Oct 23–25, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Butterfield Lake?

Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Butterfield Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently asked questions

What is the water temperature of Butterfield Lake?

Butterfield Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 78 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2016–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

When is Butterfield Lake warmest?

Surface water at Butterfield Lake is typically warmest in July, reaching about 77°F. Lake surface temperature lags air temperature by several weeks, so the warmest water usually arrives in mid-to-late summer even though the hottest air can come earlier.

Is Butterfield Lake warm enough to swim?

At its typical summer peak of about 75°F, Butterfield Lake rates as "comfortable" for swimming. Pleasant for swimming — the range most people find enjoyable without a wetsuit.

Where does this Butterfield Lake water temperature data come from?

Every temperature on this page is a typical (climatological) value computed from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal — 78 readings from 2 monitoring stations between 2016 and 2025. They describe what is typical for each month, not the temperature right now.

About this data

Water temperatures are a climatology — the typical value for each month, averaged from real surface-water field readings collected by state and federal agencies and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. They tell you what to expect, not the temperature at this moment. Actual conditions vary with recent weather, depth, and time of day.