Birch Lake vs Johnson Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Birch Lake and Johnson Lake read the same on nutrients and algae. Both are in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
Birch Lake and Johnson Lake are both in Minnesota — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. These two sit close on the readings, Birch Lake versus Johnson 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.
Birch Lake
Murky, only visible to about 3.9 ft.
Johnson Lake
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Birch Lake | Johnson Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 3.9 ft Better | 3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L Better | 33 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L Better | 9.8 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft Better | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 7,074 acres | 456 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 10 | 11 Better |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | 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 Birch Lake or Johnson Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade C. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Birch Lake: 3.9 ft, Johnson Lake: 3 ft) and what you want from the lake. Birch Lake has fewer fish species than Johnson Lake.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Birch Lake and Johnson Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Birch Lake and Johnson 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 Birch Lake and Johnson 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 Birch Lake and Johnson Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Birch Lake and Johnson Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.