Island Lake vs Little Mantrap Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Little Mantrap Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Island Lake. Both are in Hubbard County, Minnesota.
Island Lake and Little Mantrap 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. These two sit close on their nutrient and algae readings, Island Lake versus Little Mantrap 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.
Island Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft.
Little Mantrap Lake
Crystal clear, you can see 17 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Island Lake | Little Mantrap Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 10.5 ft | 17 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | 8 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 6.2 µg/L | 2.5 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 65 ft Better | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 541 acres | 381 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 16 Better | 13 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | oligotrophic |
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 Island Lake or Little Mantrap Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Island Lake and Little Mantrap Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Island Lake: 10.5 ft, Little Mantrap Lake: 17 ft) and what you want from the lake. Island Lake supports more documented fish species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Island Lake and Little Mantrap Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Island Lake and Little Mantrap 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 Island Lake and Little Mantrap 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 Island Lake and Little Mantrap Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Island Lake and Little Mantrap Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.