Hunter Access
Completed Projects

Lake Louise Access Site — Lake Louise Recreation Area

Coordinates: 62.299741, -146.588267
Game Management Unit: 13A
Land Manager: Mat-Su Borough

Description

In the heart of Game Management Unit 13A sits Lake Louise: Alaska's largest lake system accessible by road. Lake Louise offers access to over 100 miles of shoreline and an additional 100+ miles of known hunting trails thanks to the connecting Susitna and Tyone Lakes. Located in the Mat-Su Borough just north of the Glenn Highway and west of Milepost 160, Lake Louise Road serves as the primary access corridor for thousands of Alaskans annually.

This recreation site includes parking and boat launch facilities that provide hunting access to the interconnected lakes. The sprawling network is home to moose, caribou, black and grizzly bear, grouse, waterfowl, ptarmigan, furbearers, and migratory birds. The Nelchina Caribou Herd, numbering over 50,000 individuals, migrates through this area each year, while over 200,000 migratory waterfowl call this area home during summer and fall. A variety of fish can be caught in the lakes, including trout, grayling, and burbot.

The new ADA accessible floating dock is next to the new boat launch at Lake Louise
The expanded parking area accommodates more trucks and trailers, and a new vaulted outhouse improves sanitary conditions
New kiosks provide lake and area information to users

Purpose

Due to changes in lake level, normal wear and tear, and increased recreational use, upgrades and repairs are needed for this recreation site.

Currently, boat users must unload and load boats by backing trailers beyond the edge of the ramp. This presents clear risks and safety concerns, as trailers can get stuck, typically requiring the use of a winch to pull the loaded tires back to the ramp edge. There is also a possibility of losing the unsupported trailer and boat while using the ramp in its current condition. Other users choose to forego the ramp entirely, risking getting stuck in the unsupported lakebed by attempting to load and unload in undesignated areas.

The lack of adequate parking has also become an issue requiring the repair and expansion of the parking lot to accommodate more users.

Outcome

This project was completed summer 2021. Additional parking space increases safety by relocating vehicles out of road traffic travel lanes into the new parking area, accommodates more users, and improves safety in the loading/unloading zone. The new floating dock adds safe access into/out of boats for handicap and elderly as well as safe tie up for loading/unloading. The new concrete boat launch extends into deeper water and is wider to allow boats to be launched/loaded two at a time. And three informational kiosks panels were added. A celebratory ribbon cutting event took place on August 16, 2021. Watch the video here.

Project Partners

Lake Louise Lake Access Location

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