Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Sybil Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than East Loon Lake. Both are in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

East Loon Lake and Sybil 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. The readings are close: East Loon Lake and Sybil 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.

East Loon Lake

Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft.

Sybil Lake

Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricEast Loon LakeSybil Lake
Water Clarity13.5 ft20 ft Better
Phosphorus13 µg/L9 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)3.9 µg/L2.4 µg/L Better
Maximum Depth105 ft Better74 ft
Surface Area1,044 acres683 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species17 Better16
Trophic Statemesotrophicoligotrophic

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.

Verdict

East Loon Lake and Sybil Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (East Loon Lake: 13.5 ft, Sybil Lake: 20 ft) and what you want from the lake. East Loon Lake supports more documented fish species.

Stays via Stay22

Where to stay near East Loon Lake and Sybil Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around East Loon Lake and Sybil 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 Sybil Lake

Prices for Nov 6–8, 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 East Loon Lake and Sybil Lake?

Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near East Loon Lake and Sybil Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.