Ida Lake vs Lobster Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Ida Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Lobster Lake. Both are in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Both Ida Lake and Lobster 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. The readings are close: Ida Lake and Lobster 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.
Ida Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 16.4 ft down.
Lobster Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Ida Lake | Lobster Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 16.4 ft Better | 13 ft |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L Better | 20.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3 µg/L Better | 3.6 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 106 ft Better | 65 ft |
| Surface Area | 4,445 acres | 1,334 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 19 Better | 18 |
| 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.
Swap a lake
Compare Ida Lake or Lobster Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Ida Lake and Lobster Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Ida Lake: 16.4 ft, Lobster Lake: 13 ft) and what you want from the lake. Ida Lake supports more documented fish species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Ida Lake and Lobster Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Ida Lake and Lobster 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 Ida Lake and Lobster 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 Ida Lake and Lobster Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Ida Lake and Lobster Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.