East Loon Lake vs Long Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
East Loon Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Long Lake. Both are in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
Both East Loon Lake and Long 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, East Loon 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.
East Loon Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft.
Long Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 12.3 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | East Loon Lake | Long Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 13.5 ft Better | 12.3 ft |
| Phosphorus | 13 µg/L Better | 20 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.9 µg/L Better | 4.4 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 105 ft | 128 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 1,044 acres | 1,289 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 Better | 16 |
| 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
East Loon Lake and Long Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (East Loon Lake: 13.5 ft, Long Lake: 12.3 ft) and what you want from the lake. East Loon Lake supports more documented fish species.
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Where to stay near East Loon Lake and Long Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around East Loon 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 East Loon Lake and Long Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.