Mary Lake vs Rachel Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Mary Lake and Rachel Lake read the same on nutrients and algae. Both are in Douglas County, Minnesota.
Both Mary Lake and Rachel 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. These two sit close on the readings, Mary 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.
Mary Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft.
Rachel Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.9 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Mary Lake | Rachel Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 10.5 ft Better | 7.9 ft |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L Better | 22.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.5 µg/L | 3.9 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft | 65 ft Better |
| Surface Area | 2,450 acres | 448 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 17 Better | 14 |
| 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.
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Verdict
Both lakes earn the same Grade A. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Mary Lake: 10.5 ft, Rachel Lake: 7.9 ft) and what you want from the lake. Mary Lake supports more documented fish species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Mary Lake and Rachel Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Mary 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Mary Lake and Rachel Lake
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.