Eagle Lake vs Long Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Eagle Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Long Lake. Both are in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Eagle Lake and Long 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, Eagle Lake versus Long 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.
Eagle Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 22.6 ft down.
Long Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 12.1 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Eagle Lake | Long Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 22.6 ft Better | 12.1 ft |
| Phosphorus | 5 µg/L Better | 19.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.8 µg/L Better | 5.3 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft | 88 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 907 acres | 395 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 10 Better | 1 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | 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.
Swap a lake
Compare Eagle Lake or Long Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Eagle Lake and Long Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Eagle Lake: 22.6 ft, Long Lake: 12.1 ft) and what you want from the lake. Eagle Lake supports more documented fish species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Eagle Lake and Long Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Eagle Lake and Long 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 Eagle Lake and Long 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 Eagle Lake and Long Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Eagle Lake and Long Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.