Pleasant Lake vs Turtle Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Turtle Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Pleasant Lake. Both are in Ramsey County, Minnesota.
Both Pleasant Lake and Turtle 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: Turtle Lake carries clearly lower phosphorus and chlorophyll-a readings than Pleasant 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: Turtle 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?
Pleasant Lake
Murky, only visible to about 5.6 ft.
Turtle Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Pleasant Lake | Turtle Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | 5.6 ft | 7.5 ft Better |
| Phosphorus | 54 µg/L | 22 µg/L Better |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 11.6 µg/L | 5.2 µg/L Better |
| Maximum Depth | 58 ft Better | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 607 acres | 450 acres |
| Public Access | No | Yes |
| Fish Species | 10 | 15 Better |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | 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.
Swap a lake
Compare Pleasant Lake or Turtle Lake against a different lake.
Verdict
Turtle Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Pleasant Lake. Water clarity: 7.5 ft vs 5.6 ft. For fishing diversity, Turtle Lake also leads with 15 species.
Stays via Stay22
Where to stay near Pleasant Lake and Turtle Lake
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Pleasant Lake and Turtle 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 Pleasant Lake and Turtle Lake
Prices for Sep 25–27, 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 Pleasant Lake and Turtle Lake?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Pleasant Lake and Turtle Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.