Maple Lake vs Villard Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Maple Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Villard Lake. Both are in Minnesota.
Maple Lake and Villard 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. Maple Lake reads materially cleaner than Villard Lake on nutrients and algae. A gap that wide is unlikely to close in a single year of remediation work; it reflects multi-decade differences in the lakes themselves.
For a recreational visitor, the wider gap in the readings is decisive: Maple Lake has the lower nutrient and algae numbers. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?
Maple Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft.
Villard Lake
Murky, only visible to about 4.6 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Maple Lake | Villard Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 14.1 ft Better | 4.6 ft |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L Better | 31 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L Better | 13 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 78 ft Better | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 831 acres | 544 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 Better | 14 |
| Trophic State | mesotrophic | eutrophic |
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 Maple Lake or Villard Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Maple Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Villard Lake. Water clarity: 14.1 ft vs 4.6 ft. For fishing diversity, Maple Lake also leads with 17 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Maple Lake and Villard Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Maple Lake and Villard 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 Maple Lake and Villard Lake
Prices for Nov 6–8, 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 Maple Lake and Villard Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Maple Lake and Villard Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.