The Maligne Lake Canoe Trip is such a fun trip to take while exploring Jasper National Park. Maligne Lake is one of my favourite places to canoe in the Rockies, as it is surrounded by incredible mountains views and is such a peaceful place to be. A lot of people canoe Maligne Lake to get to the Spirit Island Viewpoint, which is only accessible by boat, making it a unique place to visit that only a handful visitors get to experience!

What is Spirit Island and Where is it?

Spirit Island is a natural tree-filled “island”, about 14 km off the main shore of Maligne Lake. For a lot of the year it actually isn’t an island and is more of a peninsula, however, it is a beautiful spot surrounded by mountains and stunning blue-green water with Aboriginal significance. It is one of the most photographed places in Canada and is definitely a beautiful place to visit!

How to Get There by Canoe

Spirit Island is only accessible by boat. You cannot hike there or drive there - the only way in is by water. One of the best ways to get there is by renting a canoe and making a paddling trip out of it!

Where to rent a canoe

The easiest way to begin a Maligne Lake canoe trip is to rent a canoe at the shores of the lake. Maligne Lake Boathouse is located right at Maligne Lake and has canoes to rent when they open for the day.

If you’re wanting to reserve your canoe in advance and leave as early as you want (which I recommend), Wild Current Outfitters offers canoes locked up at the Maligne Lake shore as well.

This is a great option because you can be one of the first to hit the water super early in the morning, avoiding the crowds and having the peacefulness of the lake all to yourself. This is also a great option because you’ll miss other boat traffic and the water will be incredibly calm.

Plus, the earlier you leave, the higher the chance of seeing wildlife as well! I saw a moose and her baby about 20 minutes into our paddle at 6:30 am!

peaceful canoeing maligne lake with pretty reflections in the water

There are also multiple different options of canoes to rent through Wild Current in order to fit your group's needs. I rented a two person canoe because it was just my sister and I paddling, which worked out great for us.

From Wild Current Outfitters your canoe choices are:

2 person canoe (16’-17’)
3-4 person canoe (18’-19’)
4-6 person canoe (27’)

A larger canoe is a great option for larger families or groups who only want to rent one canoe, but still be able to carry all their necessary gear and fit everyone in one boat! Canoes are kept at the Maligne Lake shore, which makes it very easy to grab your canoe and start paddling on your own schedule.

How Much Time You’ll Need

Spirit Island is quite far from the shoreline at Maligne Lake, and if you’re not an avid canoer I would highly recommend leaving as much time as possible to get there!

A day trip is possible, but it will be a full day and take a lot of energy to achieve. Spirit Island is around 14 km from the boat launch, which means a day trip would be 28 km of canoeing. It took me (limited canoe experience) about 4.5 hours to reach Spirit Island from the Maligne Boat Launch.

To make your experience more enjoyable and to get the most out of this incredible paddle adventure, I would highly recommend booking a backcountry campsite on Maligne Lake!

2 days is the perfect amount of time for a Maligne Lake Canoe Trip.

Camping Reservations & Campgrounds for Multi Day Trips

If you are planning to do a multi day trip on Maligne Lake, you will have to book one of the backcountry campgrounds on the lake. A campsite at any of these campgrounds can be very hard to get - they usually sell out within the hour of being released.

Plan in advance! Jasper Backcountry Campsite Bookings for the summer typically open in January.

There are 3 campgrounds to choose from:

Hidden Cove - This campground is actually quite close to the Maligne Lake Shore, which means it’s not the most ideal campground to book if you’re hoping to visit Spirit Island. It is the newest campground though and is great to break up the paddle if it’s all you’re able to get.
- 3.5 km from the Maligne Lake Boat Launch

Fisherman’s Bay - This is the best campsite to book, as it is super close to Spirit Island. Because of this though, it’s the most sought after campground and can be the hardest to snag.
- 13 km from the Maligne Lake Boat Launch (Spirit Island is 14 km from the Launch, which means you are only a 1 km paddle away)

Coronet Creek - This is a beautiful campground, but it is quite far and located at the very end of Maligne Lake (past Spirit Island). You’ll have to do a lot more paddling to get here, but it is doable as long as you leave yourself enough time (my sister and I were able to do it, but it was so hard!).
- 22 km from the Maligne Lake Boat Launch (8km past Spirit Island)
- Keep in mind if you are paddling from Coronet Creek back to the Boat Launch on Day 2, that is a 22 km paddle!

Check out Parks Canada Maligne Lake Backcountry Guide for more information.

What Happens if I Don’t Get a Campsite?

If you are not able to get a campsite, watch for cancellations because they do happen more often than you think! If you secure a campsite from a cancellation, make sure to reserve a canoe as soon as you can.

Otherwise, you can attempt to do the paddle to Spirit Island in one (very long) day!

Gear You’ll Need for a Maligne Lake Canoe Trip

For a multi day Maligne Lake canoe trip, you will need to pack some gear with you! Make sure to bring the necessities, such as proper clothing, swimsuit, toiletries, sun hat, enough food and a method to cook it (and extra food in case), enough water (and extra), backcountry camping gear (tent, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, etc.).

If you rent through Wild Current Outfitters, they provide:

Paddles
Life jackets
Throw bags
Whistles
Bailer
Waterproof Bag

You can pick this up from the Jasper Adventure Centre the day before your trip (don’t forget to do this if you’re hoping for an early start!)

Other gear not to forget:

Toilet paper - there are pit toilets at campgrounds and picnic sites along Maligne Lake
Sunscreen, sunglasses, and hat
Bags for garbage (pack out your garbage)
Toque (it can get chilly at night and early mornings, even in the summer)
Firewood if you want to have a fire and a lighter
Camera and extra batteries!
Screenshot of Maligne Lake downloaded to your phone and/or physical map
Backcountry permit printed from your Parks Canada camping reservation
Fishing license if you’re planning to fish!

Other Things to Know & Tips

Leave early (avoid the tour boats) - The Maligne Lake Cruise starts running at 9 am each morning. If you can get on the lake and to Spirit Island before the tours start, the water will be way calmer, and you’ll have Spirit Island all to yourself! The calmness of the water is the biggest perk though. Maligne Lake’s conditions can be unpredictable, sometimes wavy, and the waves created by the tour boats can sometimes be substantial, making it hard to paddle when they pass.

You cannot walk on Spirit Island - Spirit Island has a lot of significance to Aboriginal Culture, and therefore you cannot walk on Spirit Island itself. This also helps to protect the delicate nature here, so please be respectful and don’t beach your canoe on the island, and don’t try to walk around on the island itself.

Maligne Lake is one of the coldest and the longest lakes in the Canadian Rockies.

Paddle near the shore - Because Maligne Lake is one of the coldest in the Rockies, it’s very important to paddle close to the shore. If your canoe accidentally tips, you will want to get out of the water as soon as you can. It’s also just a lot easier to paddle when close to the shore, instead of in the middle of the lake!

Plan to stay the night before and after in Jasper - By staying the night in Jasper before your Maligne Lake canoe trip, you’ll be able to pick up your gear beforehand (life jackets, etc.) from the Jasper Adventure Centre, and be ready to hit the water as early as possible the next morning.

Having a plan to stay the night in Jasper after your 2 day canoe trip is also beneficial, as you won’t have to rush to get anywhere the next day, and you’ll be able to relax that evening :)

Fishing - Maligne Lake is the perfect place to go fishing! Wild Current Outfitters has started offering spinning fishing rod rentals that you can add to your canoe rental and enjoy this awesome activity during your canoe adventure.

Note: There are fishing regulations in Jasper National Park, make sure to read these beforehand and print out the fishing regulations to have with you.
You will also need a National Park fishing permit to fish in Jasper ($10.25/day or $35.75 annual).

Book canoes and campgrounds in advance! - It is very important to try to reserve your campsite when reservations open in January, if possible. Once you reserve your campsite, make sure to put in a request for your canoe as soon as you can. Canoe reservations can sell out, so make sure to get your reservation in quickly.

Download offline maps - There is no service at Maligne Lake. Before you leave Jasper, you should make sure to download offline maps of the lake, screenshot a picture of a map of the lake, and anything else you may want while on the water. Another great option is to buy a paper map to have as backup, just in case your phone dies.

There are picnic spots along the lake with pit toilets - Pull over to one of the picnic spots along the lake and have lunch. There is a small barbecue and picnic table at each one, and a nice spot for a swim if it’s hot!

If you want to have a fire, bring your own firewood - There are fire pits at the campgrounds, but it is illegal to gather wood, except for dead wood, along the lake (which can be wet or sparse). Plan ahead and bring what you need to have your own fire.
* Some campers leave wood they brought at the campground after they leave, so you could get lucky if you forget your own!

Leave No Trace - This is the most important tip. Maligne Lake is stunning, and so it is important to take care of this area and leave no trace! Bring a way to store your garbage and dispose of it when you get back to the lakeshore after your canoe trip, and treat the area with respect.

Other Ways to Get To Spirit Island

If you’re not interested in canoeing there, there are other ways to get to Spirit Island! These options include renting a kayak or signing up for a Maligne Lake Boat Tour.

Rent a Kayak

Renting a kayak is a great option if you are a small group and looking to paddle to Spirit Island relatively quickly (day trip). Kayaks are a lot more streamlined and can move through the water easier, but they offer a lot less space for gear and can only fit up to two people in one boat. You can rent 1 person and 2 person kayaks at the Maligne Lake Boathouse.

Maligne Lake Cruise Tour

If you’re looking to get to Spirit Island without having to paddle yourself, your other option is to sign up for a Maligne Lake Cruise Tour. There are two choices for a Boat Tour:

Pursuit Jasper - You can choose between a 1.5 hour Classic Cruise, which will take you to Spirit Island and allow for 15 minutes to explore the island, and then take you back to the Maligne Lake shoreline. Or, opt for the 2 hour Premium Cruise for a ride to Spirit Island, 30 minutes to explore, and take a quick stop at Pincushion Bay as well.
- Starting at $62 per adult

SunDog Tours - This tour company offers an awesome Maligne Valley Sightseeing Tour starting at $140 per adult and is a 5.5-6 hour tour. Sights included in this one are Maligne Canyon, Medicine Lake, Maligne Lake and a Spirit Island Cruise. This is a great option for those who are short on time, looking for a fun morning in Jasper, and those who don’t have a car, as SunDog will pick you up from your hotel (some hotels not available).

A Maligne Lake canoe trip is such an awesome adventure, and a great way to really experience the nature and the beauty the Canadian Rockies has to offer. On the lake you’ll have the opportunity to escape the crowds, relax, and enjoy the time you have in Jasper!

Have you made the paddle to Spirit Island?

*Prices listed in this article are up to date as of March 2022