Cottonwood Lake vs Wood Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Cottonwood Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Wood Lake. Both are in Minnesota.
Both Cottonwood Lake and Wood 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. The readings are close: Cottonwood Lake and Wood Lake sit within a narrow band of each other on phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity. The per-parameter table below shows where the small differences actually live.
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.
Cottonwood Lake
Very murky, less than 1.8 ft of visibility.
Wood Lake
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Cottonwood Lake | Wood Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 1.8 ft | 3 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 154.5 µg/L Better | 181.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 64.5 µg/L | 26.7 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft | 9 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 383 acres | 485 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 10 | 11 Better |
| Trophic State | hypereutrophic | 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.
Swap a lake
Compare Cottonwood Lake or Wood Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Wood Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Cottonwood Lake. Water clarity: 3 ft vs 1.8 ft. For fishing diversity, Wood Lake also leads with 11 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Cottonwood Lake and Wood Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Cottonwood Lake and Wood 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 Cottonwood Lake and Wood Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Cottonwood Lake and Wood Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Cottonwood Lake and Wood Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.