How to Get to Spirit Island in Jasper

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“Was it just me, or was the water getting more and more blue? I glanced over to Dave. His eyes were full of wonder. It wasn’t my imagination. The water was now so florescent that it looked like blue Gatorade!”

Spirit Island in Jasper National Park is a magical place. We have been there once and used this boat cruise to get there which was fantastic! The guide had the best stories about moose and bears and taught us all about what made the water so blue.

Once we arrived at Spirit Island, I knew that we needed to make a return trip because WHAT A PLACE! This year we will be back at Spirit Island but will be getting there on our own, which I’m honestly quite nervous about. Stay tuned!

This blog post will tell you everything you need to know about Spirit Island, including how to get there, whether or not I think it’s worth it and when the best time to visit is.

photo of canoe on Spirit Island in Jasper Canada

Quick Links for Visiting Jasper

Don’t have time to read the entire guide? Here are some quick links and tips to help you plan your trip!

couple on bridge leading to Pyramid Island on Pyramid Lake in Jasper

Where to Stay:
Budget – Jasper Downtown Hostel
Moderate – Pyramid Lake Lodge
Luxury – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge

Best Time of the Year to Visit Jasper: My favourite times of the year in Jasper are Summer or Fall for the best weather.

Do I need a car for Jasper: Unless you are planning on joining a tour, a car is the best way to get to and around Jasper. We use Rentalcars.com to find the best prices.

Permits / Parks Passes required: A National Parks Pass is required for Jasper.

Top Things to do in Jasper:
– Spirit Island Boat Cruise
– Maligne Canyon hike
– Jasper Skytram

Everything You Need to Know Before Booking a Trip to Spirit Island

Table of Contents

📍 Where is Spirit Island

Spirit Island is located in Jasper AB, in the Canadian Rockies and can only be accessed by boat cruise or by canoe/kayak from Maligne Lake.

📆 When to visit Spirit Island

You can visit Spirit Island from late May to the middle of October. Outside of these times, the boat cruise to get there is no longer operating.

If you want to make sure you get nice, sunny weather, the best time to visit would be July or August during Summer. May and June will be stunning because there will still be lots of snow on the surrounding mountains and early October is great if you want to see some gorgeous Fall colours. During Winter, the lake is frozen and likely full of snow which is why the boat cruise does not run.

In a nutshell, you can’t go wrong with any time during the opening months, unless it’s raining.

couple on the Spirit Island Boat cruise in Jasper

🎒 What to bring with you to Spirit Island

👗 Clothing

T-shirt or dress
Pants, shorts or leggings depending on the weather.
Casual shorts and tops
Fleece in case it gets cold on the boat
Puffer Jacket in case it gets extra cold
Raincoat
Sunhat
Beanie – We wore our beanies when we went in early July.

🥾 Adventure Gear

Daypack or Camera Bag
Reusable water bottle
Sunscreen + lip balm with SPF
Bug spray
Camera or GoPro There will be plenty of photography opportunities!
Comfy shoes

How to Get to Spirit Island

The only way to get to Spirit Island is by boat from Maligne Lake. It is a 14km (8.7 mile) trip with absolutely haw dropping views of mountains and turquoise water. You might even spot a moose or a bear on the shoreline from your boat!

There are two different ways to get to Spirit Island. One is relaxing and great for vacationers and the other is for the highly adventurous. For both of these options you will need to drive to Maligne Lake first and park in the free parking lot. The drive from Jasper is around 1 hour but you never know with traffic and wildlife so I recommend leaving 30 minutes early.

Maligne Lake Boat Cruise — *Maligne Lake*

Option 1: Take a Scenic Boat Cruise

The first most popular and easiest option is to take a scenic boat cruise which is what we did when we first visited Jasper. The cruise is about 1.5-2 hours long altogether with 15-20 minutes spent on Spirit Island. The thing that I like about the cruise is that it wasn’t just about Spirit Island but we also learnt all about the history of the surrounding land.

Tips

Make sure you have your camera out ready to go while you are on the boat because the scenery is gorgeous! During the trip, you will be allowed to get up and go to the back of the boat which is outside the cabin. Make sure you do this because you can see so much more.

Option 2: Canoe or Kayak to Spirit Island

The second option is to canoe or kayak to Spirit Island. Keeping in mind that you will need to paddle 14km if you go directly to Spirit Island, it is a HUGE and exhausting adventure.

It takes 4-6 hours or more paddling one way to the island, depending on your experience in a canoe. You can paddle in one day or you can choose to camp overnight at one of the 3 campgrounds along the way. If you want to make this into an overnight trip, you will need to book a campsite permit through the Parks Canada website.

Before heading out, check trail, weather and road conditions at: parks.canada.ca/jaspertrails.

We are tackling this trip by canoe this Summer so stay tuned for a full blog post with stories containing the good, the bad and the awful!

🖱 Booking your Spirit Island Cruise

The first cruise leaves at 9am which is the one we booked. The reason being is that we wanted our best chance at seeing some wildlife and we did! Driving towards the lake, we saw 2 Grizzly Bears along the side of the road! This is the first and only time we have seen Grizzlies in the wild so it was a special and very exciting moment!

I highly recommend booking your boat cruise in advance. Don’t just turn up and expect to buy tickets on the spot because you won’t be able to. This cruise is one of the most popular things to do in Jasper and it sells out fast every day.

👉 This is the boat tour we did which we 1000% recommend. You can book it here!

blue water on the way to Spirit Island via the Maligne Lake Boat Cruise

Final Tips for Visiting

Enjoy every minute!
Arrive early to make sure you don’t miss your cruise
Bring water and snacks
Book your cruise ticket early to make sure you don’t miss out (it is extremely popular)
Be respectful of the land by leaving no trace
Know your fitness level, do lots of research and triple check the weather forecast if paddling.

Girl looking out at Spirit Island wearing an Otway the Label Jacket

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spirit Island worth it?

10000%! Spirit Island is such a beautiful place and personally I think, if you are going to book any ticketed activities in Jasper it should either be Spirit Island or the Jasper Skytram on a clear day.

What else is there to do near Spirit Island?

On the way back from Spirit Island, you could stop at Maligne Canyon for a small walk around the canyon. You can also walk around Maligne Lake before or after your cruise. We didn’t have time for this but heard another group of people say that the saw a moose on their walk around the lake which I am still very jealous of.

Your next read

If you are spending some time in Jasper, this 3 day Jasper itinerary will help you plan an epic trip!

Are there any restaurants or cafes on Spirit Island?

Spirit Island itself is very wild and there are no restaurants or cafes on the island. There are however, a few dining options at Maligne Lake that you can go to before or after your boat cruise.

Waffle Hut – self explanatory
Lake House Café – smaller sweet and savoury snacks and drinks
The View – the fanciest option with patio dining. Also serves beer, wine and cocktails.

Are there bathrooms on Spirit Island or on the boat?

There are no bathrooms on the boat but there are bathrooms on Spirit Island and also at Maligne Lake before you get on the boat.

Are dogs allowed on the Maligne Lake Boat Cruise?

Dogs are not allowed on the Maligne Lake Boat Cruise, nor at Spirit Island.

Why is the Spirit Island water so blue?

The water surrounding Spirit Island looks like it has magic in it, but the reason it is so blue is due to the presence of rock flour from the glaciers which, I realised while on the cruise, that this means it won’t be this colour forever… sorry to end on such a sad note.

💭 My thoughts

Spirit Island is one of the most beautiful and wild places I have seen in my lifetime and although touristy, I think it is 100% worth visiting! I’m beyond excited (and a little nervous) to canoe there with Dave and some friends this Summer!

More Jasper and Canadian Rockies Guides