Myre-Big Island State Park, State park in Freeborn County, Minnesota, US
Myre-Big Island State Park is a Minnesota state park in Freeborn County, in the southern part of the state, set around Albert Lea Lake. The terrain combines wetlands, mixed woodland, and open grassland on gently rolling ground.
The area was designated a state park in 1947, when much of the land had previously been used for farming. Over the following decades, former fields were gradually returned to a more natural state.
The park takes part of its name from Big Island, a landmass in Albert Lea Lake that visitors can reach on foot via a connecting trail. Fishing is a strong local tradition here, and the lake draws anglers throughout the open-water season.
The park is open year-round, with hiking and cycling trails in the warmer months and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing routes in winter. Dress for the season and carry water, as facilities along the trails are limited.
The park carries two names because it was formed by merging two separate protected areas: Myre State Park and Big Island State Park were combined in 1973. That merger is the reason for the double name that still appears on maps and signs today.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
