Cannon Lake vs Wells Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Wells Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Cannon Lake. Both are in Rice County, Minnesota.
Both Cannon Lake and Wells 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, Cannon Lake versus Wells 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.
Cannon Lake
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft.
Wells Lake
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Cannon Lake | Wells Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 4.1 ft Better | 2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 244 µg/L | 211 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 46.5 µg/L | 40.5 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft Better | 4 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,593 acres | 677 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 Better | 15 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | hypereutrophic |
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 Cannon Lake or Wells Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Cannon Lake and Wells Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Cannon Lake: 4.1 ft, Wells Lake: 2 ft) and what you want from the lake. Cannon Lake supports more documented fish species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Cannon Lake and Wells Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Cannon Lake and Wells 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 Cannon Lake and Wells 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 Cannon Lake and Wells Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Cannon Lake and Wells Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.