High Island Lake vs Marion Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Marion Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than High Island Lake. Both are in Minnesota.
Both High Island Lake and Marion 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, High Island Lake versus Marion 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.
High Island Lake
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility.
Marion Lake
No clarity data.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | High Island Lake | Marion Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 2.1 ft | No data |
| Phosphorus | 180 µg/L | 71 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 14.6 µg/L Better | 73 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 6.5 ft | 15.2 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 1,340 acres | 520 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 11 | 13 Better |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | 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.
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Verdict
High Island Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Marion Lake. For more fish-species variety, Marion Lake edges ahead with 13 documented species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near High Island Lake and Marion Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around High Island Lake and Marion 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 High Island Lake and Marion Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.