Minnie-Belle Lake vs Washington Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Minnie-Belle Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Washington Lake. Both are in Meeker County, Minnesota.
Both Minnie-Belle Lake and Washington 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. The readings are meaningfully apart: Minnie-Belle Lake carries clearly lower phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings than Washington Lake. A spread that wide reflects real underlying differences, in watershed inputs, depth profiles, or monitoring rigor.
For a recreational visitor, the wider gap in the readings is decisive: Minnie-Belle 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?
Minnie-Belle Lake
Good clarity, visible to about 14.4 ft.
Washington Lake
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Minnie-Belle Lake | Washington Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 14.4 ft Better | 4.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L Better | 32.5 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.8 µg/L Better | 11.6 µg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 49 ft Better | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 597 acres | 2,438 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 14 | 18 Better |
| 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 Minnie-Belle Lake or Washington Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Minnie-Belle Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Washington Lake. Water clarity: 14.4 ft vs 4.5 ft. For more fish-species variety, Washington Lake edges ahead with 18 documented species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Minnie-Belle Lake and Washington Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Minnie-Belle Lake and Washington 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 Minnie-Belle Lake and Washington 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 Minnie-Belle Lake and Washington Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Minnie-Belle Lake and Washington Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.