Just northeast of Jasper, off the Jasper Park Lodge access road, the Maligne River drops from its high mountain valley to cut an astounding canyon into a steep limestone face on its way to meet the Athabasca River. The chasm of Maligne Canyon is up to 46m (151 ft.) deep at points, yet only 3m (10 ft.) across. A sometimes-steep trail follows the canyon down the mountainside, bridging the gorge six times. In summer, a teahouse operates at the top of the canyon.
An incredibly blue mountain lake buttressed by a ring of high-flying peaks, Maligne Lake is 45 minutes east of Jasper and is one of the park's great beauty spots. Maligne is the largest glacier-fed lake in the Rockies, and the second largest in the world. Droves of tour buses go to the "hidden lake," and the area is a popular destination for hikers, anglers, trail riders, and rafters. No matter what else they do, most visitors take a boat cruise to Spirit Island, at the head of the lake. The 90-minute cruise leaves from below the Maligne Lake Lodge, an attractive summer-only facility with a restaurant and bar (but no lodging). Cruise tickets cost C$35 (US$28) for adults, C$29 (US$23) for seniors, and C$18 (US$15) for kids.
Maligne Lake waters are alive with rainbow and eastern brook trout, and the Maligne Lake Boathouse is stocked with licenses, tackle, bait, and boats. Guided fishing trips include equipment, lunch, and hotel transportation, with half-day excursions starting at C$195 (US$156). You can rent a boat, canoe, or sea kayak to ply the waters. All facilities at Maligne Lake, including lake cruises, fishing, trail rides, and a white-water raft outfitter that offers trips down three Jasper Park rivers, are operated by Maligne Tours (www.malignelake.com). Offices are located at the lake, next to the lodge in Jasper at 626 Connaught Dr. (tel. 780/852-3370) and at the Jasper Park Lodge (tel. 780/852-4779). Maligne Tours also operates a shuttle bus between Jasper and the lake.
Downstream from Maligne Lake, the Maligne River flows into Medicine Lake. This large body of water appears regularly every spring, grows 8km (5 miles) long and 18m (59 ft.) deep, and then vanishes in fall through a system of underground drainage caves, leaving only a dry gravel bed through the winter. According to First Nations belief, spirits were responsible for the lake's annual disappearance, hence the name.
Organized Tours of the Park--Organized tours of the park's major sites -- notably the Athabasca snowfields (C$76/US$61) and a Maligne Lake cruise (C$86/US$69) -- are offered by Brewster (tel. 780/852-3332; www.brewster.ca) and Maligne Tours (tel. 780/852-3370; www.malignelake.com). Beyond the Beaten Path (tel. 780/852-5650; www.jasperbeyondthebeatenpath.com) also offers excursions to these popular destinations, as well as trips to Miette Hot Springs (C$50/US$40) and more intimate sightseeing, photography, wildlife-viewing, and picnic options. The company offers a shuttle for hikers and rafting parties.
