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Lake Louise

Ree Heights, South Dakota — Hand County.

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165Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 142196592).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Louise, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Louise is in South Dakota

The red circle marks Lake Louise.

Fast facts

About Lake Louise

  • County: Hand
  • Nearest city: Ree Heights (about 5.1 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 63 mi from Pierre and 66 mi from Aberdeen, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (South Dakota: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in South Dakota

Official SD GFP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 2 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Brittle waternymph recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Louise shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Lake Louise Beach (Beach)2Lake Louise Campground Beach (Beach)3½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Lake Louise Beach
    Beach
  3. 3Lake Louise Campground Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 142196592), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.6237, -99.1344). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Louise. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Louise

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.6232, -99.1326

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 2 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Louise not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Lake Louise BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Lake Louise Campground BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Louise

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Louise

    How big is Lake Louise?

    Lake Louise covers about 165 acres in Ree Heights, South Dakota (Hand County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Louise?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Lake Louise?

    OpenStreetMap shows 2 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    What towns are on Lake Louise?

    Lake Louise touches Ree Heights in Hand County, South Dakota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Louise? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All South Dakota lakes & ponds · All waters in Ree Heights