Lake Louise Recreation Area is a gorgeous place with plenty of shoreline along Lake Louise with activities galore and 31 campsites offering electric hookups for RVs. Located 14 miles northwest of Miller, South Dakota, the recreation area was created when a dam was constructed along Wolf Creek that formed the 164-acre Lake Louise. The prairie terrain surrounding Lake Louise is packed with wildlife for people to enjoy and there are plenty of activities to keep you busy.
Lake Louise Recreation Area was originally the homeland of Plains Indian Tribes that include the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate. The tribe occupied the land for centuries and first encountered European fur trappers in the late 1790s. The tribe entered into the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty which opened much of the grasslands to settlers. After years of conflict the tribe was subjugated to a nearby reservation. With the completion of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company’s line from Huron to Pierre, the rail line was instrumental in settlers entering the area around the 1880s.
Today, Lake Louise Recreation Area offers plenty of exciting activities for you to enjoy when you visit in your rig. The 164-acre lake boasts a boat ramp and there are lots of areas on the lake to explore by kayak or canoe. Other activities in the recreation area include a nine-hole disc golf course, swimming beaches, hiking trails, and lots of campground games. Winter is ideal for sledding and snowshoeing.
The weather at Lake Louise Recreation Area is ideal for camping in your RV. Summer time temperatures hover in the mid-80s with up to three inches of rain per month. Winter time brings up to eight inches of snow per month accompanied by temperatures in the 20s.
RVs and motorhomes can access Lake Louise Recreation off of 191st Street. Traveling northwest from Miller you will navigate first on north on South Dakota State Highway 45. The highway is straight with little curves to navigate. You will encounter undulating prairie terrain and at times high winds that can prohibit you driving speed. You will start to head west at the junction of 191st Street and Highway 45. The drive along 191st Street is not challenging. You will notice undulating prairie terrain and high winds again at times. If you are traveling along U.S. Highway 14 you can access the park from driving north on 349th Avenue which offers an easy drive through undulating prairie terrain where you might encounter high winds too. At the junction with 193rd Street you head east for a short distance before reaching the junction with 351st Avenue. From here you will follow 351st Avenue north until you reach 191st Street.
Once inside the recreation area you will notice plenty of congestion. There is one road that forks three times within the recreation area. The east fork takes you to the main campground and boat launch. Expect congestion on this route. The second fork takes you to a day use area and the disc golf course. The third fork has you traveling westward to the west campground within the recreation area. Here you will find congestion along the day use areas and in the campground. When driving within the recreation adhere to posted speed limits. Beware of sharing the road with pedestrians, bicyclists, and children playing near one of the two playgrounds.
The Lake Louise Recreation Area Main Campground is situated along one loop within the eastern portion of the recreation area and contains 31 back-in campsites furnished with electricity for motorhomes. The campground is within an easy walk to Lake Louise and offers privacy between most campsites and sufficient tree cover for shade at most campsites. Each campsite is furnished with a fire ring, picnic table, and a gravel parking pad which may require leveling. RVs and motorhomes are restricted to 65 feet in length but not all campsites can accommodate larger rigs. There is a dump station located near the entrance of recreation area.
RVers are encouraged to fill their water holding tank while dumping their full holding tanks. Other facilities within the campground include flush and vault toilets, a children’s playground, a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, and water spigots. Generators may be used from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Pets must be restrained by a six-foot leash at all times. Although the campground is open year round, the water is turned off from October until April.
The Lake Louise Recreation Area West Campground is situated along one loop in the western portion of the recreation area with eight campsites that do not provide any services for motorhomes. The campground is heavily wooded providing sufficient shade and privacy. The campsites are within an easy walk to Lake Louise. Campsites are furnished with a picnic table, fire ring, and gravel parking pad which may require leveling. RVs and motorhomes are limited to 50 feet in length and not all campsites can accommodate larger rigs. There is a dump station located near the entrance of the recreation area.
RVers are encouraged to fill their water holding tanks at the time of dumping a full holding tank. Other facilities at the campground are minimal with water spigots and vault toilets. Generators may be used from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Pets must be restrained by a six-foot leash at all times. The campground is open year round but the water is turned off from October until April. Sites in this campground are open on a first-come, first-served basis.
Hunting during the off season is a popular thing to do in Lake Louise Recreation Area when your visit with your camping trailer. Hunters use the campground for base camp and search the surrounding areas for game animals. Hunters have exceptional luck looking for wild pheasant, turkeys, sage grouse, mourning dove, deer, and water fowl such as ducks and geese. Please check South Dakota hunting regulations about bag limits and seasonal hunting within the recreation area. Never hunt on private land without the land owner’s permission.
There are plenty of opportunities for winter sports once the snow starts to fly in Lake Louise Recreation Area. RVers will be pleased with the snow pack that is waiting for you to explore on your snowshoes or cross-country skis. The four-mile Pheasant Run Trail is ideal for cross-country skiing and offers a terrain with little elevation gain. Snowshoeing is best within the disc golf course where you can actually play a round of disc golf while snowshoeing. Other opportunities exist for sledding and tubing in the more slightly hilly portions of the recreation area such as the disc golf course.
Take your rod and reel with you in your motorhome. Fishing at Lake Louise Recreation Area is fabulous. You can decide whether you want to try your luck from numerous places along the shoreline, the fishing dock or inside your water craft such as a boat, kayak and canoe. Once you throw your line in the 164-acre Lake Louise you can expect to catch small and large mouth black bass, walleye, northern pike, bullhead, bluegills, and yellow perch. For your convenience there is a fishing cleaning station near the boat ramp. Fishing is best in the early spring when run-off fills the lake to its deepest depths. Please check the South Dakota fishing regulations for bag and size limits before dipping your line.
Pack some Frisbees in your camper and try your luck at the nine-hole disc golf course. Located in the central portion of the recreation area, the nine-hole course offers plenty of challenging holes. The disc golf course is almost 3,000 feet in length and is challenging for all types of players including experts. The course is heavily wooded and moderately hilly with wind on most holes.
Lake Louise Recreation Area is a perfect place for RVers to bring their boats. No matter if your water craft is motorized or a kayak, there is plenty of open water on 164-acre Lake Louise for you to enjoy. Kayakers can take advantage of numerous beach areas where putting in your kayak is easy. Motor boats can launch at the boat ramp which is located near the main campground. Once on the water your eyes will pop with the sights from the gorgeous natural scenery that surrounds the lake. Swimmers will be delighted with the several beaches along the lake that offer great swimming and relaxation on the sand.
Most RVers have a good pair of hiking shoes packed away in their rig. At Lake Louise Recreation Area hiking is a great for all skill levels included families. There are more than 20 interpretive signs explain the wildlife, geology, history, and culture of the area on the four-mile Pheasant Run Trail. The trail is perfect for everyone with little elevation gain. Walkers will enjoy the 1.8 miles of road way through the park which offers a great way to stretch your legs. While hiking and walking beware of vehicles on the road.
