Freeborn County community to DNR: Finish the Blazing Star State Trail
City News September 17, 2026
The Albert Lea City Council, Hayward City Council and Freeborn County Board all voted the week of Sept. 14 to send a joint letter that urges the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to complete the remaining half-mile gravel section of the Blazing Star State Trail.
Leaders emphasize that the trail has been 20-plus years in the making with 8.1 miles completed and only 0.5 mile to the finish line.
The letter reads in part:
“Our communities waited more than two decades for the DNR to build the bridge over Albert Lea Lake and connect the Albert Lea and Hayward sections of the trail. Through all those years, our patience sometimes ran thin, but our support for the trail never wavered.
“When the bridge and adjoining trail segments were finally completed in 2025, we were ready to celebrate. We planned a ribbon-cutting, a big celebration, and new routes using the completed trail for our annual Rock-n-Roll the Lakes bike ride. The Freeborn County Trail Association and Albert Lea Area Cyclists even raised more than $70,000 to build a bicycle shelter at Albert Lea’s trailhead.
“Then came the disappointing news that the DNR pulled that final half-mile of gravel from the 2025 project.”
The letter concludes: “With the final half-mile paved, we can promote the completed trail, attract more visitors to Albert Lea, Hayward and Myre-Big Island State Park; strengthen our tourism economy; and keep connecting to our new trails.”
To learn more:
- Watch the joint Albert Lea-Freeborn County news conference
- Read the letter
- Visit the local trails webpage
Freeborn County Board Vice-Chair Nicole Eckstrom (at left in the photo) watches as Albert Lea Mayor Rich Murray signs a letter urging the Minnesota DNR to pave the final half-mile gravel stretch of the Blazing Star State Trail.
The half-mile of gravel in the Blazing Star State Trail creates a haphazard route for bicyclists and prevents full use of the trail as far as attracting more visitors to the community.
This map of the Blazing Star State Trail shows the remaining half-mile of gravel to be paved within Myre-Big Island State Park.
