2026 04 06 - State Trail, Blazing Star - Albert Lea MN

Trail head

Our State Parks pass is now expired.

The trail runs about a half mile from our hotel, but that would mean walking on the road for a half mile then walking back to the hotel.

So we drove into town and parked at one of the trail heads. One is at the city park with a 'city bike path' to this one. This one is just a trail head. No play ground or sports fields. It does have parking and an outhouse.

In addition to the main trail, this area has paved loops around two ponds. That is where we walked. We did our half hour walk around the ponds. Only a couple of feet elevation change, all paved except the parking lot.

Saw a few birds. The high ground is too narrow for much else.

The trail is listed as 2.5 miles but to me it looks like it should be longer than that. Once you leave the trailhead, there are more hills and elevation change. I think this trail has parking close enough together that we could walk the whole trail, a half mile at a time.

Free, paved. It may only cross one street outside the State Park. Not a 'rail trail, so not completely flat.

Trees, trail and lake.