Clear Lake vs Round Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Round Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Clear Lake. Both are in Jackson County, Minnesota.
Clear Lake and Round 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, Clear Lake versus Round 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.
Clear Lake
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility.
Round Lake
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Clear Lake | Round Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 1.5 ft | 2 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 90.5 µg/L | 77 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 44 µg/L | 14.7 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 434 acres | 930 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 15 | 17 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.
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Verdict
Round Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Clear Lake. Water clarity: 2 ft vs 1.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Round Lake also leads with 17 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Clear Lake and Round Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Clear Lake and Round 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 Clear Lake and Round Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.