> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.simplykyra.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Maligne Lake - URL: https://www.simplykyra.com/blog/maligne-lake/ - Published: 2026-09-24T21:36:47.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-24T21:36:47.000Z - Description: At Maligne Lake we took a lake cruise on the largest glacially fed lake in the Canadian Rockies, stopped for a break in view of Spirit Island, and headed back. The weather started out gorgeous, then threw in a surprise hail storm on the way (good thing we were in a covered boat). - Author: Kyra - Tags: Quiet Views, Simply Customize It!, Canada, Alberta, Outdoors, Jasper National Park, Outdoor Play, Photo Collage Back near the end of August my family and I visited Alberta, Canada for my sister's wedding. Previously we'd stopped in Banff but this time around we chose to go through Jasper, and make a few stops, to show the kids a new place on the way to the wedding. Our first stop was [Maligne Lake](https://www.malignelakeboatcruise.com/?ref=simplykyra.com) which took our breath away. We timed it so well with gorgeous weather both when starting out and at the stopping point... and then true Alberta weather came and gave us hail on the way back before clearing up again so none of us got wet. I want to share the whole experience with all of you whether you're debating doing the same thing or are just looking for some epic views. ![Pinterest geared image showing my post title, images from below, and my main URL.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_Maligne-Lake---pinterest-1.png) 💕 **Pin this post to come back to later.* --- ## Good to Know ### Pass Maligne Lake is part of Jasper National Park and you will need to get an entrance pass to go through. You can pay as you enter through the park, we stopped while heading into Jasper, or [book online](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/tarifs-fees/portes-gates?ref=simplykyra.com) ahead of time. In addition, if you want to go on the same [boat cruise](https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/maligne-lake-cruise/?ref=simplykyra.com) as us you will need to book ahead of time as can book up early. ### Getting There If coming from Jasper, Alberta it takes about an hour and a half and they recommend aiming to arrive an hour before your cruise time. Just a heads up there is a rebooking fee if you miss your time slot. ![Screenshot of the 1 hour and seventeen minute drive on my maps app... and the only viable route. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-23-at-4.33.41---PM.png) At this moment, September 23rd 2026, it takes 1 hour and 17 minutes to drive from Jasper to Maligne Lake. Screenshot of Apple Maps on September 23rd, 2026. ### Facilities Parking was free and busy but doable when we were there. We stopped at the vaulted toilet by the parking lot but quickly realized, once we neared the lake and saw the lakehouse, that there were much better facilities there. That said, we didn't take time to check it out but did see on the FAQs that there's both washrooms and [three food/drink options to choose from](https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/maligne-lake-cruise/dining/?ref=simplykyra.com). ![Screenshot showing trees, lake, and labelled mountain peaks in the distance.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-23-at-4.24.29---PM.png) Screenshot was taken on September 23rd 2026 of the live video from the Maligne Lake Lakehouse. ### The Tour When we went they had a boat taking off every quarter hour so you couldn't line up too early and had to wait until your time slot was closer. The boat itself is mainly covered with a back open area you can check out after the safety talk is done. Most of the time we sat in benches next to big windows so we could see out while groups of us, after the safety talk was done, went out (max 6 at a time) for a better view outside. ![Image of the fossil in my daughter and husband's hands.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_IMG_3679.jpeg) The tour has an onboard guide who continuously shared facts about the area, passed around a fossil, and gave us commentary when we noticed a moose on the shore. Just be aware there are no bathrooms on the tour so be sure to go first especially with young kids... plus at the end of the tour there's an optional request for tips. ### More Time If we had more time, and maybe no kids with us, I would've loved to pack a picnic and check out one of the many trails around the lake or even go for a paddle. [![Image shows a map with trails shown on the right and on the left a description of Maligne Lake with the top trails listed below. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_Screenshot-2026-09-24-at-9.00.56---AM.png)](https://www.alltrails.com/poi/canada/alberta/jasper/maligne-lake?ref=simplykyra.com) There's 16 "trails" listed around Maligne Lake on AllTrails and they all look amazing. [Screenshot](https://www.alltrails.com/poi/canada/alberta/jasper/maligne-lake?ref=simplykyra.com) taken on September 24th, 2026. ### More Information As mentioned above you'll need both an entrance pass ([Parks Canada Pass](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/tarifs-fees/portes-gates?ref=simplykyra.com)) to get into Jasper and, if using the boat tour, you'll need [to buy a pass](https://www.banffjaspercollection.com/attractions/maligne-lake-cruise/?ref=simplykyra.com) there too. In case you'll looking into this for yourself here are some more helpful links: - [Maligne Lake - Parks Canada](https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/activ/itineraires-itineraries/lac-maligne?ref=simplykyra.com) - [Maligne Lake - Travel Alberta](https://www.travelalberta.com/listings/maligne-lake-1207?ref=simplykyra.com) - [Maligne Lake, Spirit Island, and More - Banff Blog](https://thebanffblog.com/maligne-lake/?ref=simplykyra.com) ## The Cruise ### Starting Out The weather was great and we were on our way. We sat near the back but had no issues hearing the guide... and he explained why we may slow down ahead of time (passing near kayaks) while also counting down (anticipation) when crossing the other cruise boats' wakes. ![Water, trees, mountain, blue sky, and fluffy clouds. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_-2026-09-23-at-4.51.13---PM.png) Loved the blue sky and fluffy clouds. ![You can see the wake from the boat. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_-2026-09-23-at-4.05.24---PM.png) View from the back of the boat. ![Mountains, water, and more sky.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_IMG_3675.jpeg) Everything looked amazing... ### Spirit Island We thought the lake was gorgeous before but as we approached Spirit Island the vista opened up and it was simply sublime. As we approached the dock we were told that Spirit Island holds significance to the Stoney Nakoda First Nations and although we docked to see it and take photos we shouldn't walk out onto it (it's only sometimes an island and other times is connected to the mainland). ![Me and my husband leaning into each other as we pose in front of the guardrail overlooking Spirit Island. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_IMG_3712.jpeg) There were many photos taken on the island but love this one of my husband and I. As we arrived the previous tour was leaving and we only got to explore for fifteen minutes before we needed to be back on the boat with the next boat arriving with yet another group. That said, according to[ the Banff Blog](https://thebanffblog.com/maligne-lake/?ref=simplykyra.com), the last cruise of the day (Premium Cruise and books up even faster) offers an additional fifteen minutes while docked. Plus then, further down, mentions a 60-minute stay with the *Through the Lens* photography focused cruise. [![Screenshot showing the AllTrails website with simple look, elevation gain, and description.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_Screenshot-2026-09-24-at-9.00.02---AM.png)](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/canada/alberta/spirit-island-lookout?ref=simplykyra.com) It's a simple loop that starts and ends at the dock... and you can easily go off it to stand on the shore and crouch down to touch the water. [Screenshot of AllTrails](https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/canada/alberta/spirit-island-lookout?ref=simplykyra.com) taken on September 24th, 2026. ### Heading Back Until this point the weather was gorgeous but on the way back, as the guide was talking, the weather turned quickly and it started to hail. The guide recognized we were distracted and went silent so we could listen and enjoy the view. This made me really appreciate our cruise timing and I loved the true Albertan experience of turning to my kid sitting with me and whispering see*... if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes.* ![View of the clouds hovering over the darkened mountain with hail in the air and the odd bit obstructing the view on the windows. The water looked pock-marked.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_-2026-09-23-at-4.04.05---PM.png) The clouds came in and the hail started. Love how the water looks with the rain and hail hitting it... especially since I wasn't driving the boat. ![Image shows the rain splatted window and, through it, the side of the boat with hail sitting on the edge. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_IMG_3773.jpeg) It was hard to see the hail unless you tilted the camera down to right outside the window where some of it accumulated. ### Moose Sighting If that wasn't exciting enough after the hail stopped we noticed a moose and her baby along the shoreline. Mindy, the guide told us her name, was eating the weeds along the bottom of the lake while her baby continued off on its own and finally laid down in some trees. ![Image shows a moose with her head in the water while a smaller moose stands off to the side. Trees, shore, and water.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/compressed_-2026-09-23-at-4.02.39---PM.png) Took a video and then snapped a screenshot for all of you. The baby is on the shore to the right of Mindy. ### And Back And then we were back and we hopped out of the boat not once getting wet. At this point we could've checked out the lakehouse... but there was a hotel we needed to check into so we got back into our car and were on our way. --- The photos by Spirit Island were so gorgeous that I needed to share them with all of you. With [Simply Customize It](https://www.simplykyra.com/simply-customize-it/) I love how simple it is to put a custom sleep screen image on my reMarkable... as such, I've created two photo packs that each work on the reMarkable 1, 2, Paper Pro, Paper Pro Move, and Paper Pure. The landscape pack comes with six images all already turned sideways so you can easily upload them to your reMarkable, in whichever way works for you, without any additional work. It's available on [Etsy](https://simplykyra.etsy.com/listing/4578166633/maligne-lake-remarkable-sleep-screens?ref=simplykyra.com) or [Gumroad](https://simplykyra.gumroad.com/l/maligne-lake-landscapes?ref=simplykyra.com). [![Collage of all 6 images offered along with three alternative sizes for other reMarkable devices. Text around the images explain. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/Gumroad-ScreenImages-Cover-2.png)](https://simplykyra.gumroad.com/l/maligne-lake-landscapes?ref=simplykyra.com) The portrait pack comes with one additional image for seven in all. It's also available on [Etsy](https://simplykyra.etsy.com/listing/4579260813/maligne-lake-remarkable-sleep-screens?ref=simplykyra.com) or [Gumroad](https://simplykyra.gumroad.com/l/maligne-lake-portraits?ref=simplykyra.com). [![Collage of all 7 images offered along with three alternative sizes for other reMarkable devices. Text around the images explain. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/d3/68/d3684a67-f3a9-4c11-9d37-bc9fc8fe73ed/content/images/2026/09/Gumroad-MaligneLakePortraits-Cover-1.png)](https://simplykyra.gumroad.com/l/maligne-lake-portraits?ref=simplykyra.com) I'm linking my current [Gumroad](https://simplykyra.gumroad.com/?ref=simplykyra.com) or [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/SimplyKyra?ref=dashboard-header) digital products in case you prefer browsing. And please... if you want me to make sleep screen packs from any other image I've shared previously on my blog or on social media please [let me know](mailto:mail@simplykyra.com?subject=MaligneLake)... or if you'd like to see these images used in a different way, let me know and I'll see what's possible. --- Either way I hope these photos found you well and you're having a great day!