Big Lake vs Whitewater Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Big Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Whitewater Lake. Both are in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Both Big Lake and Whitewater 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. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Big Lake versus Whitewater Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.
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 Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.2 ft.
Whitewater Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Lake | Whitewater Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 8.2 ft | 14 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L Better | 14.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4.9 µg/L | 1.8 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft | 73 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 1,904 acres | 1,212 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 8 | 15 Better |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | oligotrophic |
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.
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Verdict
Big Lake and Whitewater Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Big Lake: 8.2 ft, Whitewater Lake: 14 ft) and what you want from the lake. Big Lake has fewer fish species than Whitewater Lake.
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Where to stay near Big Lake and Whitewater Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Big Lake and Whitewater 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 Lake and Whitewater Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.