Minnesota sells itself on 10,000 lakes — the real count is closer to 12,000 — but its far southeast corner is oddly short on them. That's what makes Lake Louise State Park, a 1,100-acre park just a few miles north of the Iowa line, such a handy find. Its 25-acre namesake lake sits right where the Upper Iowa and Little Iowa Rivers meet, so paddlers and anglers get water access that's genuinely rare in this part of the state.

The lake itself is small and usually calm, which suits a slow shore-launched kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard session. Birds and butterflies are everywhere along the banks, and fishermen do well from shore or from a boat: largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie and catfish are the main targets, in both the lake and its two rivers. Rules worth knowing — Minnesota residents can fish free from shore inside the park, but anyone fishing from a canoe or kayak needs a licence, as do non-residents aged 16 and up. Licences are easy to buy online through the state DNR.

Camping is the park's other big draw, and it covers most bases. The drive-in campground has 20 sites (11 with electric hookups, nine without) plus showers and a dump station. Groups can book Red Oak, which sleeps 20, or Riverview, which takes 30 — both rustic, with vault toilets and picnic tables. There's also a six-site horse campground. The season generally runs Memorial Day to mid-October, weather permitting, and reservations should be made online in advance.

When you're off the water, a sandy swimming beach opens in summer, several miles of hiking and horseback trails wind through the park, and the 20-mile Shooting Star State Trail — a favourite with cyclists — runs straight through it. What's striking is how quiet all this stays. The park's remoteness keeps crowds down; the nearest city and airport is Rochester, about an hour away, so even peak season feels relaxed.

Getting there is part of the appeal. The park is a stop on the Midwest's scenic DARK Trail, a road-trip route worth building a weekend around. Austin, Minnesota, about 30 minutes north, makes a good side trip — a small town with proper food options and one of the country's best food museums (the Spam Museum, if you're counting). For travellers who like their lakes uncrowded and their campgrounds bookable, this corner of Minnesota is an easy sell.