Cruising in Jasper National Park

Experience a spirited boat cruise in Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is the jewel of the Canadian Rockies.

By Nicholas J Parkinson

Staff Writer

Rockies.com

JASPER, Alberta (Rockies.com) – There is an island of pride floating on Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park. Here, there’s a cruise ship pleased with being named Canada’s best boat cruise by Reader’s Digest and celebrating 100 years of tourism.

Thanks to this notoriety, tourists flock to Jasper National Park to take the 90 minute cruise to Spirit Island. The island is considered very photogenic, especially after winning fame in the 50s. A local photographer won a Kodak photo contest in New York City, thereby putting Maligne Lake and Spirit Lake on the map.

This diminutive Canadian Rockies icon, floating amid turquoise, glacial waters is accessed via glass enclosed and heated boats with local operator, Maligne Tours.

The tour is fully narrated with a crew explaining history, glaciology and geology of the area. Visitors can step off onto Spirit Isand. “People come to Jasper, usually stay for a day or two. We’re an hour out of Jasper, so it’s a half day commitment to come up here and take the cruise,” Diane Scott, Maligne Tours manager says.

Maligne Lake sits a good 2000 feet higher than the town of Jasper, so tourists should be prepared for brisk changes in the weather and temperature. There is camping around the lake’s shores, and campers can rent canoes and kayaks from Maligne Tours, Scott adds.

Lakes abound in the Canadian Rockies.

“People get a glimpse into Jasper National Park’s backcountry, which most people can’t get to because they are not physically able,” Scott says. The lake just celebrated 100 years of tourism since Mary Schafer first laid eyes on the alpine beauty, credited as the first person, other than indigenous people, to see the natural wonder.

Boat cruises started back in the 1920s and Maligne Tours has been running people to Spirit Island since 1977.

The cruise season runs from mid-May to the first week of October. Adults pay $55 and children half-price. Visitors are invited to enjoy the restaurant and heritage boat house located on the lake.