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Lobster Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Rachel Lake. Both are in Douglas County, Minnesota.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Lobster Lake and Rachel 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, Lobster Lake versus Rachel 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.

Lobster Lake

Douglas County, Minnesota

Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft.

Rachel Lake

Douglas County, Minnesota

Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricLobster LakeRachel Lake
Water Clarity13 ft Better7.9 ft
Phosphorus20.5 µg/L Better22.5 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)3.6 µg/L Better3.9 µg/L
Maximum Depth65 ft65 ft
Surface Area1,334 acres448 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species18 Better14
Trophic Statemesotrophicmesotrophic

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.

Verdict

Lobster Lake and Rachel Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Lobster Lake: 13 ft, Rachel Lake: 7.9 ft) and what you want from the lake. Lobster Lake supports more documented fish species.

Stays via Stay22

Where to stay near Lobster Lake and Rachel Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Lobster Lake and Rachel 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.

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.