Lake Carlos State Park
Lake Carlos State Park is a state park in Douglas County. It was established in 1937. 8 lakes with water-quality readings are within 15 miles of the park, including Carlos Lake, Miltona Lake, Ida Lake.
Lake Carlos State Park State Park spans an unrecorded acreage acres in Minnesota — a designated recreation destination with the full set of facilities the state park system provides. 8 measured lakes are within easy reach of the park. Carlos Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the set.
State parks pair well with the lake pages: the park itself usually has interpretive signage explaining the local lake system, but the per-lake readings tell you which actual lake in the system to head to.
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Official Resources
Nearby Lakes (within 15 mi)
Lakes closest to Lake Carlos State Park, weighted by size. Click a lake for its water-quality readings, fish species, and depth.
| Lake | County | Surface Area | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Lake | Douglas | 2,605 acres | 2.8 mi |
| Miltona Lake | Douglas | 5,731 acres | 3.5 mi |
| Ida Lake | Douglas | 4,445 acres | 3.8 mi |
| Le Homme Dieu Lake | Douglas | 1,801 acres | 4.7 mi |
| Alvin Lake | Douglas | 2,605 acres | 5.7 mi |
| Irene Lake | Douglas | 639 acres | 4.9 mi |
| Darling Lake | Douglas | 1,050 acres | 6.1 mi |
| Geneva Lake | Douglas | 640 acres | 7 mi |
Other Parks in the Area
- Inspiration Peak State Wayside Park— State Wayside, 15 mi
- Glendalough State Park— State Park, 28.1 mi
- Glacial Lakes State Park— State Park, 33 mi
- Charles A. Lindbergh State Park— State Park, 45.3 mi
Where to stay near Lake Carlos State Park
Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Carlos State Park — find a place to stay close to the park and its nearby lakes.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Carlos State Park
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.