Carlyle Lake vs Raccoon Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Carlyle Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Raccoon Lake. Both are in Illinois.
Both Carlyle Lake and Raccoon Lake sit in Illinois. 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, Carlyle Lake versus Raccoon 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.
Carlyle Lake
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility.
Raccoon Lake
Very murky, less than 1.2 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Carlyle Lake | Raccoon Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 1.8 ft Better | 1.2 ft |
| Phosphorus | 238.5 µg/L Better | 285 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 38.8 µg/L Better | 73.5 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | - | - |
| Surface Area | 24,580 acres | 730 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 0 | 0 |
| Trophic State | hypereutrophic | 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.
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Verdict
Carlyle Lake and Raccoon Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Carlyle Lake: 1.8 ft, Raccoon Lake: 1.2 ft) and what you want from the lake. Carlyle Lake matches its peer on species count.
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Where to stay near Carlyle Lake and Raccoon Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Carlyle Lake and Raccoon 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 Carlyle Lake and Raccoon Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.