Myre-Big Island State Park sits on the southern shore of Albert Lea Lake in Freeborn County, Minnesota, offering 1,578 acres of surprisingly diverse landscapes where prairie, oak savanna, and wetlands converge. The park’s namesake Big Island — one of the largest islands in a Minnesota lake — anchors the experience, connected to the mainland by a causeway that makes it easily accessible on foot or by bike.

What sets this park apart is its position along a geological boundary. Glacial moraines from the last ice age created rolling hills on the east side while flat prairie stretches to the west, giving visitors two distinct environments within a single park. Birders flock here for good reason — the wetlands and grasslands attract over 200 species, including pelicans, herons, and bobolinks. The park’s location along the Mississippi Flyway makes spring and fall migration seasons particularly rewarding.

Hikers can explore roughly seven miles of trails that wind through Big Island’s hardwood forest and along the lakeshore. In winter, those same trails welcome cross-country skiers and snowshoers. The park also offers a swimming beach on Albert Lea Lake for cooling off during humid Minnesota summers.

The campground provides both drive-in and walk-in sites, with modern facilities that make it a comfortable base for a weekend stay. Summer weekends fill up, so reserving ahead through the Minnesota DNR is wise.

Visit between late April and October for the best conditions, though fall color on Big Island’s hardwoods is worth timing your trip around.

Explore Nearby

• Superior National Forest — National Forest in Minnesota
• Chippewa National Forest — National Forest in Minnesota
• Minnesota Scenic Byways — Scenic Byway in Minnesota
• Paul Bunyan Scenic Byway — Scenic Byway in Minnesota
• The Arches Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Minnesota