Big Mckenzie Lake vs Middle Mckenzie Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Middle Mckenzie Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Big Mckenzie Lake. Both are in Wisconsin.
Both Big Mckenzie Lake and Middle Mckenzie Lake sit in Wisconsin. 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 Mckenzie Lake versus Middle Mckenzie 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 Mckenzie Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft.
Middle Mckenzie Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Mckenzie Lake | Middle Mckenzie Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 10 ft | 20 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 16.7 µg/L | 12.4 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 71 ft Better | 45 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,129 acres | 527 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 7 Better | 5 |
| 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 Mckenzie Lake and Middle Mckenzie Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Big Mckenzie Lake: 10 ft, Middle Mckenzie Lake: 20 ft) and what you want from the lake. Big Mckenzie Lake supports more documented fish species.
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Where to stay near Big Mckenzie Lake and Middle Mckenzie Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Big Mckenzie Lake and Middle Mckenzie 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 Mckenzie Lake and Middle Mckenzie Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.