Campbell Lake vs Little Turtle Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Campbell Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Little Turtle Lake. Both are in Beltrami County, Minnesota.
Both Campbell Lake and Little Turtle 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, Campbell Lake versus Little Turtle 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.
Campbell Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.7 ft.
Little Turtle Lake
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Campbell Lake | Little Turtle Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 6.7 ft Better | 6.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 21.5 µg/L Better | 23.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.4 µg/L Better | 12 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 463 acres | 469 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | No |
| Fish Species | 14 | 15 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.
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Verdict
Campbell Lake and Little Turtle Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Campbell Lake: 6.7 ft, Little Turtle Lake: 6.5 ft) and what you want from the lake. Campbell Lake has fewer fish species than Little Turtle Lake.
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Where to stay near Campbell Lake and Little Turtle Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Campbell Lake and Little Turtle 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 Campbell Lake and Little Turtle Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.