By Tim Engstrom,managing editor

Stop at the ranger station at Myre-Big Island State Park, open the door and the first pamphlet holder on the counter is a park map. On that map is a guide to the trails.

My dog, Alta, and I did just that last Saturday. If you are going to hike the trails, there are three good places to park: On Big Island, at the end of an offshoot road near New York Point or at a spot cleared for trail hikers at the White Fox Campground.

We parked at White Fox Campground and walked a loop that first went east, then south along the shore of Albert Lea Lake. It then crossed the paved road, soon heading west along the shore again, this time through woods. We were short on time &8212; nature is best enjoyed without a watch or cell phone, right? &8212; so we headed north through the grassland back to the campground.

Our trip was cut short even though Saturday was a gorgeous day. From the looks of the weather this week, perhaps it&8217;s the last one we&8217;ll see for some time.

It seems Alta was right. We should have gone camping Saturday. The campground people seemed happy they were there.

Occasionally there were benches for rests. We stopped at one to play &8220;tackle Alta.&8221; Even though we had no toy football, she knew how to play. We met a few other hikers and a few other trail dogs.

Alta turned 3 this month, and my wife and I agreed that we don&8217;t take Alta on long walks enough. We should take her to the park more often.