Clearwater Lake vs Middle Cullen Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Clearwater Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Middle Cullen Lake. Both are in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
Both Clearwater Lake and Middle Cullen 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, Clearwater Lake versus Middle Cullen 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.
Clearwater Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft.
Middle Cullen Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Clearwater Lake | Middle Cullen Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 13 ft | 13.5 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L Better | 14 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.7 µg/L | 2.7 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft Better | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 905 acres | 405 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 16 Better | 15 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | mesotrophic |
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
Clearwater Lake and Middle Cullen Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Clearwater Lake: 13 ft, Middle Cullen Lake: 13.5 ft) and what you want from the lake. Clearwater Lake supports more documented fish species.
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Where to stay near Clearwater Lake and Middle Cullen Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Clearwater Lake and Middle Cullen 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 Clearwater Lake and Middle Cullen Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.