Myre-Big Island State Park

This guide is for campers comparing the park's two campgrounds, travelers looking for a stop just off I-35 or I-90, and birders planning around migration. It covers site types, trails, rentals, seasons, fees and directions. Facts come from the Minnesota DNR park record and park maps unless another source is named; sources are listed at the end.

The park in brief

The 2026 park map says the park was created in 1947 to protect geologic features, plant life and human history, and grew from 116 acres on Big Island to more than 1,700 acres; the DNR park record lists 2,073 acres. The DNR describes Albert Lea Lake as a lake left by a huge block of glacial ice, with a surface area of 2,600 acres and more than 20 miles of shoreline. A glacial esker, a winding ridge of sand and gravel, runs through the north end of the park.

The DNR says evidence of human occupation here goes back more than 9,000 years, mostly in artifacts such as projectile points, axes and pottery. The Owen Johnson Artifact Collection is one of the largest in the state but is not on public display.

Camping and lodging

Two drive-in campgrounds split the sites. The DNR says about a third are in the heavily wooded Big Island campground, and the rest are in White Fox campground, which has "a picturesque prairie setting."

The DNR also lists the New York Point group center on the lake's north shore, reserved through the park office.

Seasons and services

• Water, showers and the fill and dump station: first weekend in May through the third weekend in October, per the DNR's seasonal update (the facility list in the same DNR record says mid-May to mid-October for showers and the dump station). The fill and dump station is at the White Fox campground entrance, and the DNR says a dump station within 3 miles of the park is open year-round.
• Winter camping: "Camping is available year-round. In winter, several electric campsites are available in Big Island campground." The DNR asks winter campers to call the park to make sure sites are accessible.
• Restrooms: the park office has accessible flush toilets year-round, and vault toilets stay open in both campgrounds, the Big Island picnic area and along the Pelican Trail.

The DNR recommends reserving before arrival. ReserveMN opens dates 120 days ahead, starting at 8 a.m. Central on the first day, per the DNR reservation FAQ; see the Minnesota state park reservation guide for the full process. The phone line is 866-857-2757.

Trails, Big Island and the lake

The park map highlights three hikes:

• Big Island Trail, 1.5-mile loop: mostly flat, packed dirt, around the edge of the island under maple and basswood. Spring wildflowers here include bloodroot, hepatica, Dutchman's breeches and trout lily, the DNR says.
• Great Marsh Trail, 1.7-mile loop: rolling hills and mowed grass through prairie, woodland and marsh, from the Great Marsh parking area.
• Pelican and Esker Trails, 5 to 6-mile loop: east from the park office or White Fox campground to the Pelican Trail along Albert Lea Lake, then over the esker ridge.

The park also has an all-terrain track chair for designated trails, reserved through the DNR.

Rentals, birding and the water

The ranger station rents canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, boats and life jackets, and snowshoes in winter. Birding kits, GPS units and kids' discovery kits are free to check out. The park has a public boat launch on Albert Lea Lake, but no swimming beach; the DNR points to the beach on Fountain Lake in Albert Lea, 3 to 5 miles away. For fishing details, the DNR refers visitors to its LakeFinder page for Albert Lea Lake.

The DNR calls the park "one of the many good birding spots in southern Minnesota, especially during spring and fall migration," with regular sightings of bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, great blue herons, egrets and many ducks. Hundreds of waterfowl gather on the lake and marshes during migration.

When to go

• Spring and fall: migration season for waterfowl and songbirds; the map also points to spring wildflowers on Big Island.
• Summer: occasional naturalist programs run Memorial Day through Labor Day; call ahead for the schedule.
• Winter: camping in Big Island campground, snowshoeing anywhere except the groomed snowmobile trails, and snowshoe rentals.

Current alert: as of November 2026, the DNR says the park will be open to muzzleloader deer hunting for special permit holders on December 5 and 6, 2026. The whole park stays open, visitors are encouraged to wear blaze orange or pink, and Big Island and Little Island are closed to hunting.

Fees and permits

From the DNR vehicle permit page and fee schedule, before tax:

Two nights at an electric site: 2 × ($20 + $10) + $8 reservation fee = $68 at the low end, or 2 × ($35 + $10) + $8 = $98 at the high end, plus a vehicle permit ($7 overnight or $35 year-round). For multi-night stays, ask the park which permit covers your whole stay; the year-round permit covers every visit for a year. Buy firewood at the park office year-round during office hours, or pay through Yodel; gathering firewood is not allowed.

Getting there

From Interstate 35, take exit 11 and turn east on Freeborn County Road 46. After half a mile, turn south on County Road 38 and continue 1.5 miles to the entrance. From Interstate 90, take I-35 south and follow the same directions; the DNR says both interstates have signs for the park. Convenience stores are within 3 miles, and restaurants are in Albert Lea.

For other parks nearby, see the Lake Louise State Park guide, the Rice Lake State Park guide, all bluff country guides or the park finder.

Before you go

1. Reserve a site, and pick a campground: Big Island for woods, White Fox for prairie.
2. In winter, call 507-668-7060 to make sure the Big Island sites are accessible.
3. For a backpack site, plan on 1 to 2 miles of carrying, or paddle in.
4. Fill water tanks at the White Fox fill station between the first weekend in May and the third weekend in October.
5. Check the DNR alert before a December trip for hunt dates.
6. Bring binoculars during spring and fall migration.

Related guides: Lake Louise State Park · Rice Lake State Park · Nerstrand Big Woods State Park · All bluff country guides

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Sources

• Minnesota DNR, Myre-Big Island State Park (camping, trails, seasonal update, alert, history): https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/park.html?id=spk00175
• Minnesota DNR, Myre-Big Island State Park map and guide (PDF, 2026): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00175.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, Myre-Big Island campground map (PDF, 2025): https://files.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/state_parks/spk00175_camp.pdf
• Minnesota DNR, State park fees: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/fees.html
• Minnesota DNR, Minnesota state parks vehicle permit: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/permit.html
• Minnesota DNR, Reservation FAQ: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reserve-faq/index.html