Becca and Nate took 45 of us to Spiritual Island. Our boat ride was a half an hour each way and we got off for 15 minutes behind spirit Island with a fabulous view of the glaciers and mountains behind. Becca told us about the native stony people and how sacred this land is for them. The water was turquoise and it was a beautiful afternoon here. read more

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We came to Maligne Lake for the 90 min cruise. Definitely book it online as it's less expensive and also often sold out if you wait to buy it in-person. The cruise was super nice with commentary and you're free to take pictures on the back deck as well as the boat is cruising. There's a 15 stop at Spirit Island where you can disembark and walk around the island along a pathway. The stop was short but we got some gorgeous views on the island and surrounding glaciers. We took the last cruise of the day at 5:45 and we able to catch golden hour which really added to the beauty of the cruise. Would definitely recommend coming if you're staying some time around Jasper as it's a quick drive. read more

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We booked this cruise more than a month in advance for late August. The lake is located about 27 miles from the town of Jasper. The road to the lake has a few other places along it (campgrounds, Maligne Canyon trail, etc.) but no businesses of any kind after the first 5 miles or so. The road goes nowhere other than the lake and there is no fuel available along the way or at the end, so plan accordingly. Given the speed limits, plan on it taking between 45 - 50 minutes to reach the lake from Jasper. The facilities at the end of the road include the cruise dock, canoe and paddle boat rentals, a gift shop, and at least one restaurant. I wasn't sure how crowded / pricey / decent the restaurants were, so rather than being locked into a meal there I opted to plan for lunch in Jasper followed by a drive to the lake. We left Jasper around 1:00 p.m. The cruise office recommends that you arrive at the lake 30 minutes prior to your departure time. I would recommend that you make that 45 minutes, for a couple of reasons. Given that the road is two lanes and there seemed to be semi-frequent wildlife (elk) along the side, people sometimes stop to take photos (tip: stay in your car to take them). As such, you can encounter random traffic jams that may cost you 5 minutes en route. Then, when you reach the lake, there are 3 parking area to choose from, each one further from the lake. We tried the closest one, and worked our way out to the 3rd before finding a space. We then had to walk further to access the lake. If anyone needs a restroom break between the drive and the 90-mintue cruise, that will also take a couple of minutes. So, in the end, we arrived at the dock at 2:05 p.m.! That's a bit closer than I generally like to cut it. When you park, the docks are around to your right as you face the lake, though you cannot see them from the parking area. You queue up and are ushered onto your boat by a guide and the captain / driver. The boats are not huge; they have around 10 rows of bench seats split down the middle, with up to 4 to a side. So they could hold 80 people, I guess. There is a small open deck at the rear where sub-sets of passengers (up to 8 at a time) can go for unobstructed views / better photos ops. Outbound, the guide gives a talk about the history of the area and various other topics of general interest. It take around 35 minutes to reach the end of the cruise at Spirit Island. There, you dock and go ashore for about 15 - 20 minutes. There is a restroom facility off to your right as you leave the dock. To your left is a short loop trail that offers various views of the island and the mountains beyond it. This vista is popular on nature calendars and screen savers, and for good reason. On the return trip, the guide's presentation is shorter, so that he or she can pass along the benches and try to answer any individual questions from the group. You return to the point of origin and disembark. Tips are mentioned, but there didn't seem to be a lot of pressure (I chipped in, as I enjoyed the narration and the cruise). It is worth strolling along the path that hugs the shoreline for a while afterwards, if you have the time. Also, the boathouse adjacent to the docks is worth some photos too. In all, I would definitely recommend this if you like scenery and photography. read more

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JESS AND SAM We're just great! Fun and full of info ! We had a great time speaking with them . So knowledgeable! Happy birthday to Jess and thx for the fun insight in the raptors, Sam! read more

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We really enjoyed this cruise to Spirit Island on Lake Maligne. The water is so calm and beautiful and our guide, Argentina, was very knowledgeable about the history of the lake and the culture of the indigenous people who lived there. Our captain, Brooke, was a pro at maneuvering the boat around - no one in our party got seasick. There are a number of canoes on the lake and they have to slow down periodically, as not to throw them off. The island visit itself - you can't step on the island but you walk on a platform with spectacular post card views. Get your camera ready to take photos, the experience goes by quickly, but with ample time to walk the entire circle. read more

Maligne Lake Cruise - Spirit Island - Boat Charters Near Me - Jasper, Alberta

We enjoyed the premium 5pm cruise with Kat and Connor and they were great. Told us stories and history of the area.

Awesome Experience. Going on this cruise is not cheap but going to Spirit Island and take photo of one of the most iconic spots in Canada was something I absolutely would not skip. Jess (captain) and Virginia (guide) were absolutely fantastic. Virginia really knows her stuff and explained everything in concise details. Very impressed! Overall, this is one of the highlights of my trip to Banff and Jasper so far. Highly recommend and worth every penny. read more

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Cam the guide, and Jordan the pilot took us on a lovely tour of the lake to Spirit Island, pointing out the glaciers and other interesting geology. Hi to Jordan's mom. read more

Fantastic boat cruise along Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. The enclosed boat tour was hosted & guided by a sweet woman named Alexis, and captained by Sara. They made a great team! We learned about the native history of the area, geologic conditions and movement of the glaciers, weather effects, and lake information. It was one of the best boat tours I've ever taken. Make sure you sit on the left side the entire time, and visit the outdoor back deck on the way back home. Only about 9 people can be on the back deck at a time. Also, you only get 15 minutes at Spirit Island so make it worth your time and do the small loop. You aren't allowed to go on the island. Also, we saw a moose on the shoreline! read more

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We came to Lake Maligne for the stunning beauty of the place, and that certainly didn't disappoint. I wasn't expecting the boat cruise to be so informative and entertaining. Nic was a great guide, full of humor and information. Delilah was a capable and knowledgable boat captain. I'd recommend this cruise to all! read more

I debated whether it was worth it to pay for the cruise. I had already hiked up to Bald Hills and walked part of the shoreline. As such, I felt I had experienced and seen enough of the Lake. Ultimately, I decided to go for the boat ride. My initial feelings were wrong. The cruise was worth everything I paid for it, approximately $80 after taxes. Naturally, going on the water via a canoe or a boat is the best way to experience the Lake. As a price comparison, it was $60 to rent a kayak for an hour and $76 for 90 minutes on the boat cruise. The additional $16 was worth the exponentially better views of seeing the entire Lake instead of just the parts I could paddle to within an hour. Moreover, the tour guides on the boats do a wonderful job noting the key points of interest (e.g. glaciers at the top of the mountain tops) and tell the story of the Lake while you cruise toward its south end. In addition, there is no need to make sure you get a window seat for the cruise. For the best pictures, guests are allowed to walk outside to the back of the boat where there are no windows and open air. There are two distinct colors at various parts of the lake: turquoise blue and emerald green. As you approach the south part of the Lake, you will notice that the color of the Lake is richer and emerald. It is due to the fact that part of the Lake is closer to the source glacier that feeds it. Accordingly, the glacier silk concentration is higher. Naturally, it is the most beautiful part of the Lake. The cruise takes you to Spirit Island. In actuality, it is only an island in the spring when the water levels are higher due to snow melting and heavy rain. Most of the year, it is connected to the shore. Consequently, it is really a small peninsula. Nevertheless, tourists are not allowed to step on the island, which is sacred to the indigenous people. The boats dock on a nearby pier and there is a short loop where tourists can walk around to get magnificent photographs of Spirit Island and the south end of the Lake. The cruise spends about 30 minutes at that end of the Lake. You get about 20 minutes on land to enjoy the sights and use the washroom. From the various lookout points along the short loop, you will also look at the towering Queen Elizabeth Mountains [named after Queen Elizabeth II as a gift from the Canadian government for her coronation in 1953]. The mountains surround the south end of the Lake and form a narrow "box canyon". It is why European explorer Mary Schaffer called that part of the Lake the "Hall of the Gods". As I stared into that Hall with the clouds of the mid-morning, I truly felt that I was sitting in a gallery observing Zeus and the Greek Gods on Mount Olympus. It was the most magnificent moment during my time in Jasper National Park. I am glad I did not skip it. On the other hand, it is an amazing experience depending on conditions. I went on this cruise within the 25% of the time the conditions are conducive for visibility to see everything. However, it might be a roll of a dice that you can see everything (hopefully most). The best time is generally 4 PM in the afternoon because the sun is in an optimal position for photographs. Our tour guide noted that low lying clouds can get stuck within the mountains during the morning and do not clear out till after 2 PM. I went on the second cruise of the day at 8:45 AM. I was constantly checking the weather the day before to guess whether it would be good conditions for visibility. The forecasts constantly fluctuated between clear and cloudy. Accordingly, I would not recommend booking the tickets for the cruise (regardless of the 10% discount for booking more than 48 hours in advance) until the day before because you will want to have your best guess at the weather. In my opinion, maximizing the value of whatever you pay for the experience is more important than saving 10%. On the other hand, definitely book the tickets ahead of time before you arrive. I tried to buy the tickets on location at noon and the only cruise available was the premium one after 4 PM. The biggest potential visual obstructions would be smoke from any wildfires in British Colombia (generally possible late July through August) and low lying clouds. A full day of rain cleared out the smoke during my trip. I was also fortunate that there was no low lying clouds the morning of my cruise. If you are visiting the Canadian Rockies and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary/ recommendations, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile. read more

Great cruise! We did this on our stop in Jasper and it couldn't have been a better choice. We were lucky with no rain and sights were just jaw dropping. They do have s gift shop on site with a few restaurants so come with time b4 or after to explore those! read more

Maligne Lake Cruise - Boat Charters Near Me - Jasper, Alberta

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I think the cost of this is okay, but should be a bit cheaper. They crew is nice and knowledgeable, but you only get 15 minutes to view Spirit Island. I also dislike the idea of putting gas into a place like this - that you want to preserve and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It makes no sense when they spent over a million on a solar powered restroom next to Spirit Island, yet put gas into Maligne Lake. read more

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The cruise to the Spirit Island and back is worth every penny. The view is spectacular. The staff were friendly, polite and patient amidst COVID-19 when my family visited in early October. The health and safety protocols were well communicated every step of the way from booking, arriving at the lake and during the tour itself. We were on the boat named Beaver after Samson Beaver, the member of the Stoney First Nation. The cruise captain was Becca and the tour guide was Alexis. Both were very upbeat and pleasant, telling all the great stories about the lake, the mountains, Spirit Island, wildlife around the area, Mary Schaffer, Samson Beaver and more. read more

This cruise was one of our favorite activities on our Canadian vacation. The knowledgeable and helpful staff is what makes this place shine. Melissa (our tour guide) and Jess (our captain) were just aces. Our family of 6 (kids aged 16-20) all enjoyed this afternoon and everyone learned something. The boats are clean and comfortable, safety procedures and equipment were emphasized, and the lunch options are exceptional for a national park cafe. The lake is absolutely gorgeous, and the staff really made it special by letting us know about the old coral reef, the indigenous people, the sacred history of Spirit Island (and the commercial Kodak history too!), and many other points of interest during the cruise. The only issue we had was not reading the fine print - our 330 cruise LEFT at 330, and we needed to be on the dock 15 min before tour time. Luckily, the office switched us to a later cruise quickly and easily, and didn't even make fun of us for not reading our tickets ;) read more

This adventure was simply amazing and lots of fun!!!! The guides were wonderful knowledgeable and funny. Views were spectacular. I would definitely recommend this as a Do Not Miss attraction. read more

WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Absolutely spectacular views - if you visit or even just pass thru Jasper, this is a MUST !!!