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Trails in Albert Lea lead to fun

Albert Lea is a great place to explore by trail, including many paths with lake scenes. The trail system connects parks, neighborhoods, lakes and regional destinations. For details, visit the Directory of Parks, Trails and Fun Spots.

The City of Albert Lea and its partners continue to invest in trail connections that support recreation, active transportation, tourism and access to community amenities.

Blazing Star State Trail

The Blazing Star State Trail, named for a native Minnesota flower, stretches 8.1 paved miles from Frank Hall Park in Albert Lea, through Myre-Big Island State Park, to Main Street in Hayward.

The trail is open to hiking, biking, in-line skating and other non-motorized uses. The route offers rural views and passes through Myre-Big Island State Park, where trail users can experience wetlands, oak savanna, big woods and prairie. The park is also an excellent place for bird and wildlife watching, particularly during spring and fall migration.

A major improvement opened in December 2025 when the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources completed a one-mile extension from the eastern edge of Myre-Big Island State Park to Hayward. The new section includes a 100-foot bridge over Albert Lea Lake and provides convenient access to the state park for picnicking, birding, fishing and other recreation.

Trail access and parking are available at:

The trail is free to use. A Minnesota state park vehicle permit is required to park within Myre-Big Island State Park.

The DNR plans for the Blazing Star State Trail to eventually reach about 20 miles, connecting Albert Lea with Austin and the Shooting Star State Trail.

Songbird Trail

The Songbird Trail, as planned by Freeborn County in partnership with Albert Lea and other communities, will be a regional trail along the former Union Pacific railroad corridor, connecting communities in Freeborn and Waseca counties.

The long-term vision is for 50 miles of trail from Albert Lea to the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail near Waterville, through Manchester, Hartland, New Richland and Waseca. In Albert Lea, the trail will connect with the Blazing Star State Trail through bike lanes on Front Street.

The project took a major step forward in 2026 when the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission designated the Songbird Trail as a regional trail. The designation opens additional grant opportunities and recognizes the trail’s regional importance.

The City of Albert Lea and Freeborn County have already secured $2.6 million in grants toward the Songbird Trail, bringing total grant funding for the project to about $4.1 million.

Initial 2026 construction plans include:

The project is being built in phases as funding becomes available, including a pedestrian bridge over Minnesota Highway 13.

The Songbird Trail has received strong community support. In a 2026 public survey, 89% of respondents said they supported advancing the project. Respondents identified safe walking and bicycling, recreation and exercise, access to parks and natural areas, economic development and tourism, and connections between communities as important benefits.

Blue Zones Walkway

The Blue Zones Walkway provides nearly 5 miles of sidewalk and paved trail around Fountain Lake.

Parking is available on adjacent streets, at Brookside Park and at the public lot at Broadway and Fountain.

The Blue Zones Walkway in Albert Lea supports many of the Blue Zones habits by making healthy choices easier in everyday life. The path supports moving naturally, connecting with friends by walking together, and downshifting in a healthy way.