Big Spunk Lake vs Rice Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Big Spunk Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Rice Lake. Both are in Stearns County, Minnesota.
Both Big Spunk Lake and Rice 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. Big Spunk Lake reads materially cleaner than Rice Lake on nutrients and algae. A gap that wide is unlikely to close in a single year of remediation work; it reflects multi-decade differences in the lakes themselves.
For a recreational visitor, the wider gap in the readings is decisive: Big Spunk Lake has the lower nutrient and algae numbers. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?
Big Spunk Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft.
Rice Lake
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Big Spunk Lake | Rice Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 10 ft Better | 3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L Better | 50 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L Better | 39.5 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft | 41 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 415 acres | 1,513 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 19 | 21 Better |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
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 Spunk Lake or Rice Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Big Spunk Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Rice Lake. Water clarity: 10 ft vs 3 ft. For more fish-species variety, Rice Lake edges ahead with 21 documented species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Big Spunk Lake and Rice Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Big Spunk Lake and Rice 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 Spunk Lake and Rice Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Spunk Lake and Rice Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Big Spunk Lake and Rice Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.