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Saint Nicholas County Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 11 Google reviews · Running trail in Albert Lea, Minnesota · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Saint Nicholas County Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Quiet

What runners say about Saint Nicholas County Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (11 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🌾 quiet & peaceful 3 mentions

“Very quiet, nice park up the hill but if you trek back and down, towards the lake, you will find awesome Blugill and Crappie fishing and pristine area to pitch a tent.”

This is a small little picnic area on the countryside roads in Albert Lea off of the Lake. It is quiet and looks like walking trails too.

★★★★☆ — A , Oct 2022

Visited on a day where there was a couple inches of snow. The parking area is small and I think the park is too. There was a trail from the parking area down to the lake. It was also windy and cold so we didn't stay very long. Beautiful little park for a quick run with our dog. But it is close to a road so be cautious.

★★★★☆ — Mike , Nov 2022

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 11 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 3 mentions

“Very quiet, nice park up the hill but if you trek back and down, towards the lake, you will find awesome Blugill and Crappie fishing and pristine area to pitch a tent.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Saint Nicholas County Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.

Hours

Monday 7 am–10 pm
Tuesday 7 am–10 pm
Wednesday 7 am–10 pm
Thursday 7 am–10 pm
Friday 7 am–10 pm
Saturday 7 am–10 pm
Sunday 7 am–10 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Saint Nicholas County Park

180th St, Albert Lea, MN 56007

Get directions

Running trails near Albert Lea

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Frank Hall Park

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Albert Lea Audubon Nature Preserve

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Shoff Park

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Bancroft Bay Park

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Scenic

Tranquil city park, with a gazebo, hiking trails and areas for frisbee, disc and traditional golf.

4.9 miles away

Lafayette Park

4.3 ★★★★☆ 125 reviews

Austin, MN

ShadedScenic

Venue with a playground, picnic areas, baseball field, disc golf, and trails.

17.5 miles away

Schindler's Way Mountain Bike Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 8 reviews

Austin, MN

18.7 miles away

All running trails in Albert Lea, MN →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.