Big Carnelian Lake vs White Bear Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake read the same on nutrients and algae. Both are in Washington County, Minnesota.
Both Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake sit in Minnesota. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. The readings are close: Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake sit within a narrow band of each other on phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity. The per-parameter table below shows where the small differences actually live.
With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.
Big Carnelian Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft.
White Bear Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 14.4 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Carnelian Lake | White Bear Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 14.5 ft Better | 14.4 ft |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L Better | 15 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.4 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 66 ft | 83 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 457 acres | 2,428 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 12 | 18 Better |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | mesotrophic |
A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.
Swap a lake
Compare Big Carnelian Lake or White Bear Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade A. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Big Carnelian Lake: 14.5 ft, White Bear Lake: 14.4 ft) and what you want from the lake. Big Carnelian Lake has fewer fish species than White Bear Lake.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake
Prices for Sep 25–27, 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 Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Big Carnelian Lake and White Bear Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.