Horseshoe Lake vs Lower Hay Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Lower Hay Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Horseshoe Lake (A, Excellent). Both are in Crow Wing County, Minnesota.
A
Horseshoe Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Good clarity, visible to about 14.4 ft.
A
Lower Hay Lake
Crow Wing County, Minnesota
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Horseshoe Lake | Lower Hay Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 14.4 ft | 19 ft |
| Phosphorus | 12.5 µg/L | 13 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 56 ft | 100 ft |
| Surface Area | 922.03 acres | 700.21 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 11 | 21 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | oligotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Lower Hay Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Horseshoe Lake's Grade A. Water clarity: 19 ft vs 14.4 ft. For fishing diversity, Lower Hay Lake also leads with 21 species.