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Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park: Everything You Need To Know

maligne lake jasper national park

Maligne Lake is the largest natural lake in the Canadian Rockies and is surrounded by picturesque rugged mountains and forests. The famous lake is located roughly 1 hour outside of Jasper (48km or 30mi away) along the Maligne Lake Road. The drive to Maligne Lake from Jasper is absolutely gorgeous and completely worth the time!

Maligne Lake stretches a total of 22km (13.6mi) and the area offers a countless variety of activities to do. One of the most famous pictures in Jasper National Park, Spirit Island, is actually located in the lake. There are plenty of opportunities for activities, hiking and beautiful viewpoints. 


If this is your first time visiting Maligne Lake you can easily spend the entire day there. We have been to Maligne Lake several times, so feel free to leave a comment or message us and we will help you out!


spirit island maligne

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Getting To Maligne Lake


medicine lake, maligne lake road

Getting to Maligne Lake can prove to be quite difficult without your own vehicle. The distance is too much to cover on foot, and other transportation methods could be quite expensive. Please note there is no public transit or shuttles that operate to Maligne Lake.


The drive to Maligne Lake, along the Maligne Lake Road, lasts approximately 1 hour and covers 48km (30mi). Because of the twists and turns in the road, the speed limit is heavily reduced. The road often has heavy traffic so be prepared for that.

The drive is absolutely stunning and passes the Medicine Lake Lookout. We highly encourage you to take a quick stop at this lookout and absorb the beauty! There is also plenty of wildlife along this road so keep your eyes peeled.


1. Personal Vehicle


vehicles in a parking lot

By far the most preferred way to get to Maligne Lake, a personal vehicle will provide you all the flexibility needed to get the most out of the trip and certainly at the cheapest price! Please note there is no gas station or EV charger at Maligne Lake, or along Maligne Lake road - so make sure you have enough!


2. Rental Vehicle


If you don’t have your own vehicle, renting a vehicle for the day is certainly the next best option. It offers the same convenience and flexibility of having your own vehicle with you, but just at a higher cost with the rental fee. Please note there is no gas station or EV charger at Maligne Lake, or along Maligne Lake road - so make sure you have enough!


3. Taxi Services

taxi banner

One of the local taxi services would be more than willing to help you get there and back. This would be the least convenient and certainly the most expensive method of getting to Maligne Lake, but if that’s all you can do then you have no choice! Please note a one way taxi ticket will likely cost in excess of $75 and you will likely have to schedule a pick-up because of a lack of cell service at Maligne Lake.



Maligne Lake Boat Cruise


maligne lake boat cruise

By far one of the most popular activities in Jasper National Park, the Maligne Lake Cruise offers you a chance to see Maligne Lake in the most spectacular fashion. You can effortlessly glide through the lake and absorb all the views of the surrounding forests and majestic mountains. The Maligne Lake Crusie is also the best and easiest way to see the famed Spirit Island.


The Maligne Lake Boat Tour typically operates from 31 May - 13 October - weather depending. Be sure to check their online schedule to ensure it fits your travel plan. It is recommended that you arrive at Maligne Lake 30min prior to your cruise start time. Be sure to book your cruise well before your arrival date because they sell out very fast.


maligne lake boat cruise

Two different cruise options are offered, the “Classic Cruise” and the “Premium Cruise”. The Classic Cruise lasts approximately 1.5 hours, features plenty of tour guide discussion, and 15 minutes of free time at the Spirit Island Viewpoint. The Premium Cruise features everything contained in the Classic Cruise, but lasts 2 hours and features an additional 15 minutes (30min total) at Spirit Island.


The Classic Cruise usually costs around $82 CAD and the Premium Cruise typically costs $109 CAD. The Classic Cruise usually operates several times a day, whereas the Premium Cruise typically only operates once daily in the late afternoon.



Maligne Lake Activities

There are plenty of things to do at Maligne Lake. Regardless of your age and skill level, there are several activities that can be completed at Maligne Lake that are guaranteed to please everyone.


maligne lake kayaking

1. Water Activities

You can rent kayaks, canoes and pedal boats right at Maligne Lake. Kayaking Maligne Lake or canoeing Maligne Lake are excellent options - 0f course you can always bring your own if you have the ability! Please note that no motorized vehicles of any kind are permitted on Maligne Lake. If you want something a little easier, you can always bring a paddle board with you!



2. Fishing Maligne Lake

fishing maligne lake

Maligne Lake is one of the very few places in the Canadian Rockies in which you are actually permitted to fish. The lake contains Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout - the Alberta record Rainbow Trout was actually caught in Maligne Lake!. Please consult with the Parks Canada website for further details - although it usually permitted from 20 May to 1 Oct. Make sure you purchase your fishing permit at the Park Canada entrance gate or at the local information center!


3. Maligne Lake Boat Cruise

This cruise offers you some truly amazing views of the lake and surrounding mountain peaks. It is also undoubtedly the best way to see Spirit Island. Read our section about the Maligne Lake Cruise to learn more.


4. Hiking 


maligne lake hiking

There are some really good hiking trails located in the area as well. There are four day hikes located in the area: Moose Lake Loop and Marry Schaffer Loop are relatively easy, and Opal Hills and Bald Hills are more difficult. Skip ahead to our hiking section to learn more about the hikes. Some of these hikes are also featured on our best hikes list for Jasper National Park.


5. Grab Some Food

There are a few good restaurants/coffee houses in the very nearby area that you can take advantage of. There are also plenty of picnic areas in the local area incase you bring your own food. Skip ahead to our food section to learn more.


birdwatching maligne lake

6. Bird Watching

If you’re into bird watching, Maligne Lake has some wonderful locations. In particular, the Moose Loop hiking trail (especially near Moose Lake) offers some wonderful bird watching opportunities.



Everything Spirit Island, Jasper Park


spirit island, maligne lake

Spirit Island, Jasper National Park is one of the most famed photography points in all of Jasper. Located in what is referred to as the “Hall of the Gods”, it holds immense spiritual value to the Stoney Nakoda First Nations and as such it is forbidden to walk on the island.


For many parts of the year the Island is actually not an island - during lower water levels the island is easily connected to the shore making it more of an inlet than an island. If you want to see Spirit Island as an Island, it is best to come in mid June once the snow finishes melting. Spirit Island can also be absolutely stunning in the fall with all the changing colors.


Getting to Spirit Island, Canada


maligne lake, canada

Spirit Island, Maligne Lake is actually quite difficult to get to. You really only have two options: the lake cruise or canoe/kayak. We highly recommend you opt for the lake cruise and we encourage to read our section on the Maligne Lake cruise. The only downside with this option is that your entire tour group is limited to either 15 or 30 minutes at the Spirit Island Viewpoint.


It is possible to paddle to Spirit Island - remember Parks Canada prohibits the use of motorized watercraft on the lake, so be prepared for a long day. You can rent a kayak or canoe and it would wind up costing roughly the same price for two people had you taken the cruise. The only downside is that it will take a lot, lot longer. It will probably require 8-9 hours of paddling excluding breaks and photography. We highly discourage you from starting this journey unless you are an experienced paddler.


Hiking in Maligne Lake


There are 4 main hikes to do in the Maligne Lake area, and we personally absolutely love all of them. We truly believe Maligne Lake is one of the best hiking areas in Jasper National Park.


Mary Schaffer Loop

marry schaffer, maligne lake

This is a very easy hiking trail that features some truly phenomenal views. The trail is only 3.2km in length and contains a minimal 62m in elevation gain. The portion of the trail of bordering the lake is actually completely paved and contains the famed Parks Canada Red Chairs. Depending on your speed, you should be able to complete it in less than 1.5 hours.


Moose Lake Loop 


moose loop, maligne lake

This is one of our personal favorite, easy hikes in Jasper National Park. The trail is only 2.7km in length and contains 108m of elevation gain. The trail is unbelievably tranquil and offers some beautiful photos of Moose Lake. The latter half of the trail also borders Maligne Lake and gives you some remarkable views. This trail is excellent seeing birds.


Opal Hills


opal hills, maligne lake

More challenging than the previous 2 hikes, Opal hills is 8km in length and contains 509m of elevation gain. This hike offers some truly remarkable views and the valley at the top is just stunning. This is hike is also one of the few places in Jasper National Park where you can see mountain goats - moose also frequent the area. You should be able to complete it in roughly 4 hours. 


Bald Hills

The most difficult hike in the area, Bald Hills is 15km in length and contains 763m of elevation gain. The views along this trail are stunning and the rough ascent is absolutely worth it. It should take you less than 5.5 hours to complete.



Maligne Lake Restaurants


maligne lake jasper

There are three main restaurants located at Maligne Lake: The View, Lakehouse Cafe and the Waffle Hut. Note that these restaurants are not open year-round, please check with their operating schedule to ensure they are open during your visit; although they typically operate daily over the summer from roughly 9am to 6pm.


In our opinions, the Lakehouse Cafe offers some good coffee but the food is fairly basic. The Waffle Hut offers some very basic waffles and some simple and overpriced ice cream. If you are planning to eat at Maligne Lake, we highly recommend the The View. The food is decently priced and overall very good, and as the name suggests it offers a view like very few restaurants can provide.


Maligne Lake Hotels


Unfortunately, there are no Maligne Lake hotels, Maligne Lake cabins or Maligne Lake campgrounds. The closest area you could stay would be the Town of Jasper. If you’re looking for a place to stay, we highly recommend you consider staying at one of the Parks many campgrounds.



Frequently Asked Questions

Is Maligne Lake worth visiting?

Yes, absolutely! Maligne Lake is one of the highlight visits in Jasper National Park, has some wonderful views and activties.

Is Maligne Lake accessible by car?

Can you walk around Maligne Lake?

Is Maligne Lake Road Paved?

Can you walk or drive to Spirt Island?


Comments


a happy couple posing while hiking

Hi there! We're Aidan and Sheryl, a young couple infatuated with hiking and everything related to the Canadian Rockies. We've traveled them extensively and just can't get enough. 

We want to share our experience, advice and tips to make sure you have the best trip possible!

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