Lake Louise State Park

This guide is for campers, horseback riders and cyclists deciding whether Lake Louise fits a weekend, and for families looking for a lake beach in bluff country. It covers the campground, the trails, the lake, what is open in each season and what you will pay. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park record and the 2026 park map unless another source is named; sources are listed at the end.

The park in brief

The DNR calls Lake Louise "the site of Minnesota's oldest, continuous recreation area." After the area was surveyed in 1853, the town of LeRoy was platted and a dam was built on the Upper Iowa River to power a grist mill. When the railroad passed south of the original townsite, the town moved to the tracks. The Hambrecht family, who owned land on the mill pond, later gave several acres to the village as a recreation area called Wildwood Park, and the pond was named for a family member, Louise. In 1962 the city of LeRoy donated Wildwood Park, about 70 acres, to the state to form the park.

Two spring-fed streams join in the park to form the Iowa River, and the map notes the park includes the confluence of the Upper Iowa and Little Iowa rivers and "numerous sinkholes." Thin glacial soil over limestone means the terrain is relatively level, which the DNR says makes it "ideal for the novice cross-country skier and horseback rider."

Camping and the horse camp

Showers and the dump station run with the campground season. For 2026 the DNR's seasonal update gives Memorial Day weekend through October 18 for campsites, showers, the dump station and campground water. The 2026 park map's visitor tips say the campground is open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, so check the live park page for 2027 dates. Vault toilets stay open year-round wherever there is vehicle access.

The DNR says reservations are needed for the camping season. ReserveMN opens each date 120 days ahead, and on the first day booking starts at 8 a.m. Central, per the DNR reservation FAQ. The Minnesota state park reservation guide explains the system step by step.

Buy firewood at the ranger station or through Yodel; the DNR says gathering firewood is not allowed. Campground quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Trails, the lake and the beach

The DNR's mileage figures vary slightly between documents, so both are shown here.

The DNR record calls the Shooting Star a "twenty mile" trail in its park notes, and the 2026 park map lists it at 19.7 miles one way from LeRoy to Rose Creek: flat, paved and accessible. The DNR's own Shooting Star State Trail page gives a longer figure, "about 29 miles, between LeRoy and Austin," because it counts the paved route beyond Rose Creek. That page also carries visitor alerts about a closed section through Taopi and rough pavement between LeRoy and Taopi, so read it before a long ride.

The park map highlights three hiking loops:

• Lake View Trail, 2-mile loop: from the campground parking lot, across the Upper Iowa River at a low-water crossing, then through restored prairie and woodland with views of the lake and river.
• Wildwood Loop, 1.2-mile loop: the Hiking Club Trail, starting from the picnic parking area through closed-canopy woods with ferns and spring wildflowers.
• Woodcock Loop, 2.4-mile loop: from the entrance station, through prairie and oak savanna with views of the Little Iowa River.

Horseback riding

Horse trails are typically open May 1 through October 31, weather permitting, and many are surfaced with natural vegetation. The DNR says a Minnesota trail pass is required for all horse riders; the DNR fee page lists the Horse Pass at $21 a year or $5 a day for riders over 16. The map asks riders to stay on designated horse trails, cross streams only at designated fords and use the hitching posts.

Swimming, paddling and fishing

The swimming beach sits next to the picnic area, which has tables, fire rings and an accessible open-walled shelter with electricity. The map invites paddlers to "explore 15 peaceful acres on Lake Louise" by canoe or kayak, and to bring fishing gear for largemouth bass and crappie from kid-friendly shore spots. Birders have reported more than 141 species in the park, the DNR says, including 19 warblers and 5 vireos. In spring, look for nodding wild onion, a Minnesota threatened species that grows in a colony here.

When to go

• Summer: the camping season, beach and horse trails are all open. Naturalist programs are offered occasionally.
• Fall: in 2026 the campground closed after October 18, and horse trails typically close October 31.
• Winter: snowshoe anywhere except the groomed snowmobile trails. The local snowmobile club grooms 9.6 miles of trail that connect to the regional grant-in-aid network. The DNR notes there is no parking for vehicles pulling trailers in winter.

Current alerts: as of November 2026, the DNR (updated October 15, 2026) lists a special management deer hunt on November 14 and 15. The park stays open, and visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange or pink. The DNR suggests Forestville/Mystery Cave, Myre-Big Island, Whitewater, Great River Bluffs and Beaver Creek Valley state parks for anyone who wants to avoid the hunt. The same alert says drinking water is no longer available at the picnic shelter.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

Two nights at an electric site: 2 × ($20 + $10) + $8 reservation fee = $68 at the low end, plus a vehicle permit ($7 overnight or $35 year-round). For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year. ReserveMN shows the exact site price. Buy permits at the ranger station at the entrance, but the DNR says it is not staffed regularly, so buying online first is simpler.

Getting there

The DNR gives the location as about 1.5 miles north of LeRoy on County Road 14. A pay phone at the ranger station takes credit cards and makes 911 calls. For nearby parks, see the Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park guide, the Myre-Big Island State Park guide, all bluff country guides or the park finder.

Before you go

1. Reserve a campsite for any night between Memorial Day weekend and mid-October.
2. Buy a vehicle permit online; the ranger station is not staffed on a regular schedule.
3. Riders over 16 need a Horse Pass, and horse trails usually open May 1.
4. Bring your own water to the picnic shelter, where drinking water is no longer available.
5. Check the DNR alerts for hunt dates; in 2026 the special deer hunt is November 14 and 15.
6. In winter, leave the trailer at home; there is no trailer parking.

Related guides: Myre-Big Island State Park · Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park · Beaver Creek Valley State Park · All bluff country guides

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Lake Louise State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alerts, history): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00214
• Minnesota DNR, Lake Louise State Park map and guide (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00214.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Minnesota state parks vehicle permit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html
• Minnesota DNR, Shooting Star State Trail: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/shootingstar/index.html