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Gull Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Blackduck Lake. Both are in Beltrami County, Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Blackduck Lake and Gull 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 their nutrient and algae readings, Blackduck Lake versus Gull 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.

Blackduck Lake

Beltrami County, Minnesota

Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft.

Gull Lake

Beltrami County, Minnesota

Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricBlackduck LakeGull Lake
Water Clarity6.2 ft7.9 ft Better
Phosphorus34 µg/L26 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)12.3 µg/L6.3 µg/L Better
Maximum Depth28 ft Better23 ft
Surface Area2,711 acres2,256 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species16 Better13
Trophic Stateeutrophicmesotrophic

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.

Verdict

Blackduck Lake and Gull Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Blackduck Lake: 6.2 ft, Gull Lake: 7.9 ft) and what you want from the lake. Blackduck Lake supports more documented fish species.

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Where to stay near Blackduck Lake and Gull Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Blackduck Lake and Gull 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.

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.