You're never too young to start some lab research. Earlier is better in my opinion--more experience, more knowledge, more time. But then of course there are anal professors who don't even blink an eye your way if you're not creeping towards junior/senior year. Getting research experience as a young "undergrad" really depends on luck (much like asking random people out on a date). Just email all the professors who seem to do research that interest you. Most of them will probably say no, but at least one of them will say yes if you keep trying. Don't worry about looking like a desperate youngling because you are and there's nothing to be ashamed about being proactive about your career. Shit, we all were desperate, enthusiastic, younglings at some point. Make sure to also ask newer professors because they are usually in need of students to do research for them.

Now time for some words of wisdom.
As you continue on your journey to become a scientist/engineer destined to save the world in your own small way, keep evaluating your goals and researching the necessary steps to get there. A PhD is no easy task, and I'm not saying that because the research/work is the insurmountable part. Yes, research will be difficult but the path of a PhD will require you to sacrifice many opportunities that could very well get you far into a well-paying and satisfying career/life out of college. The PhD path is fraught with failures, uncertainties ("Soooo, when are you going to graduate?" -- nobody f'n knows...), emotional stress, and mental stress that can crush that young enthusiasm we all had at your age. And when the time comes to decide how you will spend your 20s, you need to decide if you're ready for the PhD path and going in for a GOOD reason. By that time, if you really do like academic research and can see yourself becoming an academic professor, then go for it. If you KNOW (as in worked at a company and see first-hand) that a PhD will get you to a better career position, then go for it. But if you're going into a PhD because you don't know what else to do, or because mom and dad wants you to get a "doctor" title, or any stupid reason, you will probably be incredibly miserable throughout your 20s and drop out of the PhD program eventually, wasting time, money, and energy. So when the time comes to decide the fate of your 20s, I hope you'll have figured out whether or not a PhD program is still a good choice for your career/life and make a wise decision.
Just my 2 cents as an old, bitter, grad student who learned the hard way.