JASPER & AREA
WATER SPIRIT One of the most photographed places in the entire Canadian Rockies is Spirit Island. This out-of-the-way location features a small isthmus surrounded by the towering peaks of the Queen Elizabeth Range. This impressive backdrop has captivated people for millennia. Spirit Island isn’t actually an island. It’s an isthmus connected to the shoreline by a thin bridge of land. During the spring thaw, the waters rise enough to swallow this connection, making it a true island. Various First Nations Peoples frequented Spirit Island and Maligne Lake. They visited during the summer to hunt and gather food. The Îyârhe Nakoda People view mountains as the physical representations of their ancestors. So Spirit Island, surrounded in its box canyon of impressive peaks, is a very rare location that holds particular significance.
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The Îyârhe Nakoda People still visit this sacred place. While it remains one of the most photographed areas in the Rockies, they ask that visitors stay on the maintained trails behind the island, focusing on that iconic view, rather than stepping foot on the isthmus itself. Access to Spirit Island is limited. It's on a remote shore in a cold lake surrounded by high peaks and a glacier, 14 km/8.7 mi from the docks. There is no hiking access to the island, so it can only be reached on the water. The Maligne Lake Boat Cruise (p 95) is the easiest and most effective way to reach Spirit Island. Tours include photography packages and guided interpretation, so you have a better appreciation of the area. For the die-hard DIY, rent canoes or kayaks from Maligne Lake Boat House (p 95). The journey takes four hours each way, so it’s recommended for experienced paddlers. -KATE BARKER
ABOVE: TRAVEL ALBERTA | ROMAN KOENIGSHOFER @RAWMEYN
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