Olson has also seen a variety of animals in her trips out to the park, including deer, eagles and many different insects — “animals I didn’t even know we had down here,” she said. She enjoys the wildflowers — and the quiet. “This is my go-to place when I need to get away,” Olson said. She considers her time walking in the park a meditative experience.
“ ” It’s so beautiful out here. This is my home away from home. — Debi Olson
Miller and Wasson like to run, walk and bicycle on the different trails at the park.
It can also provide her the headspace to come up with solutions for workday challenges that follow her home. She and her dogs often use deer trails or buggier portions of the park to escape park foot traffic and preserve their alone time (though Olson does recommend using good flea and tick protection on dogs that romp around the park). The peacefulness, the ability to get away from people and noise that Miller looks for, he finds in the park a few miles out of town. “It changes a part of what your day was,” Miller said. AL
What can I do at Myre-Big Island State Park? Camp. Myre-Big Island has two campgrounds for a total of 98 semi-modern campsites. It also has four remote sites to backpack to. Additionally, visitors can group camp at a more modern or more primitive group camp area — there is one of each. Take a picnic. The park boasts 45 picnic sites.
Watch birds. The park has a variety of wildlife, including some special species to peek at through binoculars. According to the park brochure, birds in the park include raptors, shore and wading birds, waterfowl and songbirds: the American kestrel, marsh hawk, redtailed hawk, rough-legged hawk, great horned owl, bald eagle, common egret, great blue heron, American bittern, sora, Virginia rail, wood duck, mallard, blue-winged teal, Canada goose, indigo bunting, eastern bluebird, rose-breasted grosbeak, northern oriole, eastern wood pewee, ring-necked pheasant, ring-billed gull, white pelican and hairy, downy and pileated woodpeckers.
Rent a canoe. The park has several to take out onto Albert Lea Lake for up to four hours. Kayaks and paddle boards are also available for rental. Canoes and kayaks are $15 for four hours, while stand up paddle boards are $10 an hour. Boats can be checked out from the park office during open hours. Lifejackets and paddles are provided.
Canoes, kayaks and stand up paddle boards are available to rent at Myre-Big Island State Park.
Peep wildflowers. The park vegetation varies based on community type: oak savanna, northern hardwood forest and wetland. Flowering plants on the oak savanna include lead plant, rattlesnake master, prairie clover, prairie smoke, bottle gentian, blazing star, black-eyed susan and various types of coneflowers. Flowering plants in the northern hardwood forest include spring beauty, bloodroot, hepatica, Dutchman’s breeches, ginger and trout lily. Flowering plants in the wetland include the water lily, marsh marigold and wild iris. The wetland is also home to two carnivorous plants: the sundew and pitcher plants. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 | 43