Maligne Lake is a stunning place to visit in Jasper in the fall, especially when you take a lake cruise to the picturesque Spirit Island.
Maligne Lake is a glacial lake sitting at 22km long, and is one of the largest lakes in the area. Hidden near the end of the 22km stretch of lake is Spirit Island. Spirit Island is a world-famous spot, used very often to represent the beauty of the Canadian Rockies. It is surrounded by mountain ranges on three of its sides, creating quite the spectacular view!
Spirit Island is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, described by my guide as being a location to have special ceremonies. As such, you cannot step foot on the island, only admire it from the close shore.
The cruise on Maligne Lake to see Spirit Island in fall is a bucket list item and a great family friendly excursion to embark on. Continue reading to discover the beauty of Maligne Lake Cruise and Spirit Island in the Fall!
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How to Get to Maligne Lake Cruise and Spirit Island
Location: Maligne Lake Cruise, Maligne Lake Rd, Improvement District No. 12, AB T0E 1E0
Spirit Island is located at the far side of Maligne Lake and is only accessible by boat. Some opt to take a canoe or kayak for an adventure to the island, while others opt for taking the lake cruise like myself.
To take the cruise, you must first travel by car to Maligne Lake. From Jasper town, it is about 50km, with the majority of the drive up a windy mountain road called Maligne Lake Road. When I travelled in early October, there was already snow along the road so drive carefully!
The most wildlife I’ve ever seen at once was along Maligne Lake Road. At what seemed like every bend, there was a different species. We saw moose, bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goats, and more. It wasn’t just a few either – it was multiple at a time for multiple run-ins! It truly was a drive to remember.
After the beautiful drive, you will arrive at the chalet at the base of the lake. The chalet is home to a restaurant, cafe, bathrooms, rentals, and a gift shop. Be warned, prices are quite steep!
Maligne Lake Cruise Tickets
Price: ~95 CAD per adult, ~65 CAD per child.
For current prices, please check the website.
Prices for the Malign Lake Cruise are steep, but it is well worth it. The cruise will leave you in awe and with new lifelong memories!
Book your ticket in advance for the cruise, as its popularity has tickets selling out in advance at times.
Travelling to Spirit Island via Maligne Lake Cruise in the Fall
When it’s time to board, you’ll head to the dock nearby the chalet. You’ll enter the door on the boat to find an enclosed room out of the cool wind for your trip. It doesn’t matter which side of the boat you sit on, as there’s amazing views all around!
The boat will start it’s journey to the far end of Maligne Lake passing incredible views of mountains. As you get further along your journey, be sure to watch the colour of the water change – it gets more emerald in colour the closer to the glacier you get!
If you are good with the wind and the cold, head to the back of the boat where there will be a door to go outside. There, you can take in the fresh air and take really nice photos while listening to the water move.
Soon enough, you’ll find yourself at approaching another dock in the middle of the mountains. You’ll see Spirit Island right away as you boat by it. This will be the first view of the island, but the best view is yet to come!
When you arrive at shore, the guide will give you a time to be back by as you hop onto the ground into the trees. There are paths along the shore to follow through the forest and to the location of Spirit Island.
With all the snow at this time, the walk through the forest looks a bit like a Christmas Movie! Be sure you wear warm clothes because it is quite. the chilly walk.
Neat the end of the walking path, there will be a nice view point to take photos of Spirit Island from above. With the snowy trees, call mountains, and emerald lake in the background, it is a view made for a postcard. And yes, these photos are all taken by me using an iPhone!
When you get to the shore by Spirit Island, there are plenty of spots to take great photos and take in the views.
Be sure to wear warm clothes as it is quite cool when visiting Spirit Island in fall. I for one, never pack properly, so opted to wear a large shawl to keep warm.
When you make your way back to the boat at the end of your walk, you’ll continue to be greeted by stunning postcard-worthy views of the mountains. If you are one of the first back to the boat, you’ll get great unobstructed photos of the boat and on the dock as well!
Now, you’ll make your way back to the first dock, passing the mountains again. If you didn’t head out the back of the boat to check out the view outside yet, do so before you get back to the chalet!
When you get back, grab a hot drink from the cafe before you embark on your drive down the beautiful Maligne Lake Road to Jasper.
Is it Worth Going on Maligne Lake Cruise in the Fall?
Visiting Spirit Island in fall via the Maligne Lake Cruise is a pricey excursion, but it is a once in a lifetime experience that’s great for the whole family. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting during the fall, as the views were even more incredible covered in snow. As the weather is chilly, the cruise also isn’t as busy as it is in the peak of the summer.
Taking a fall cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island is a must-do activity in the Canadian Rockies. With the early snow on the tall mountain peaks, you’re bound to be left in awe of the place. What’s even better is that there is a stunning mountain drive with plenty of animals to get there! The cruise in fall is definitely an item for your bucket list when visiting Jasper.
Book Your Trip to Spirit Island in Fall
Are you planning to visit Jasper National Park in the Fall and take Maligne Lake Cruise to Spirit Island? Let me know how you plan to spend your time in the comments!
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Continue reading: Best Places to Visit in the Canadian Rocky Mountains
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I visited Spirit Island in late summer, before the snow. I would recommend the last shuttle of the day as the light from the side is much nicer once on site.