Jasper National Park Tour: Maligne Lake & Spirit Island

Medicine Lake's underground mystery, a 90-minute boat ride to Spirit Island, and the wildlife of Maligne Valley

A 6-hour guided tour of Jasper National Park's Maligne Valley combines a drive past Medicine Lake—famous for vanishing underground each summer—with a scenic boat cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island. Your guide points out wildlife and explains the natural and human history of the Canadian Rockies. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Maligne Valley and Lakes

• Drive along Maligne Valley road
• Stop and photograph Medicine Lake
• Travel to Maligne Lake
• Take 90-minute boat cruise to Spirit Island
• Photo and short stroll at Spirit Island
• Learn about local history and wildlife
• Return to Jasper hotel

The Experience

The drive along Maligne Valley road winds through dramatic mountain and forest landscape, and Medicine Lake is the first major stop. This lake is famous for "vanishing" every summer due to an extensive underground karst system—one of the largest in the world—a geological quirk worth photographing and understanding before you move on. Your guide explains what you're looking at and keeps watch for the animals that live here: bear, deer, caribou, wolves, moose, bighorn sheep, bald eagles and osprey are all possible sightings throughout the day.

From Medicine Lake, the road continues to Maligne Lake, where you board a comfortable enclosed boat with large windows for a 90-minute scenic cruise. The boat stops at Spirit Island, a small gem in the middle of the lake, and you have time to walk around and photograph it before heading back. The enclosed cabin means you stay warm and dry while watching the water and the peaks around you.

The tour runs 6 hours total, including the drive, both lake stops, and the boat cruise. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your Jasper hotel and returns you there at the end, so you don't arrange your own transport. The guide is with you the whole time, narrating the landscape and wildlife as the day unfolds.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off.
• 90-minute boat cruise to Spirit Island with time for a short walk.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by SunDog Tour Co

Is this one for you?At 6 hours, this tour fits into a single morning or afternoon and leaves the rest of your day free for other activities in Jasper. If you want to see both Medicine Lake's geological oddity and Spirit Island without arranging your own vehicle or guide, the fixed itinerary and included transport make it straightforward.

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Top questions

What is Medicine Lake and why does it vanish?

Medicine Lake is famous for disappearing underground every summer as a result of an extensive underground karst system—one of the largest in the world. The water drains through limestone channels beneath the lake bed, making it a striking natural phenomenon and a key stop on the tour.

Do I get to see Spirit Island on this tour?

Yes, the boat cruise to Spirit Island is included on this tour. You board an enclosed boat for a 90-minute scenic cruise on Maligne Lake, and the boat stops at Spirit Island so you can walk around and take photos.

What wildlife might I see in Jasper?

Your guide keeps watch for bear, deer, caribou, wolves, moose, bighorn sheep, bald eagles and osprey, among other animals that live in Jasper National Park. Sightings depend on the season and conditions, but the guide's knowledge of where to look increases your chances.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes, the tour includes pickup from your Jasper hotel and drop-off at the end of the day, so you don't need to arrange your own transport to the Maligne Valley.

How long is the boat cruise on Maligne Lake?

The boat cruise lasts 90 minutes and includes a stop at Spirit Island where you can walk and photograph the area before returning to the shore.