Iron Lake vs Perch Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Iron Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Perch Lake. Both are in Iron County, Michigan.
Iron Lake and Perch Lake are both in Michigan — 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. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Iron Lake versus Perch 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.
Iron Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft.
Perch Lake
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Iron Lake | Perch Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 9 ft Better | 6 ft |
| Phosphorus | 9 µg/L Better | 24 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.6 µg/L Better | 4.8 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 45 ft Better | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 390 acres | 1,046 acres |
| Public Access | Unknown | Unknown |
| Fish Species | 0 | 0 |
| 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 Iron Lake or Perch Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Iron Lake and Perch Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Iron Lake: 9 ft, Perch Lake: 6 ft) and what you want from the lake. Iron Lake matches its peer on species count.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Iron Lake and Perch Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Iron Lake and Perch 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 Iron Lake and Perch Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Iron Lake and Perch Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Iron Lake and Perch Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.