Short Hike for Views of Spirit Island

To View Spirit Island, a short hike is available from the boat landing site. This hike offers beautiful elevated views of the island and surrounding peaks. After disembarking from the Maligne Lake Cruise, visitors can follow a well maintained path through the forest that gently rises to a viewpoint just above the shoreline. This short walk; only a few minutes long leads to a wooden platform and open areas that provide postcard-worthy views of Spirit Island set against the turquoise waters and dramatic mountains of the Hall of the Gods. Though brief, this trail offers a peaceful opportunity to appreciate the landscape on foot, with time to take in the serenity, snap photographs, or simply absorb the alpine beauty that makes Spirit Island one of the most iconic scenes in the Canadian Rockies.

The Spirit Island Short View Hike

The short hike to view Spirit Island begins as soon as you step off the Maligne Lake boat at the sheltered landing dock near the island. A gravel and dirt path curves gently uphill through a quiet forest of spruce and fir, where the scent of pine mingles with the crisp mountain air. The trail is flat to moderately sloped, easy to navigate, and well-maintained, making it accessible for most visitors. It winds for only a few hundred meters - less than 10 minutes of walking - before opening up to several scenic vantage points.

The first viewpoint is a wooden platform perched slightly above the lake, offering a classic, unobstructed view of Spirit Island framed by the glacial waters and rugged peaks. Beyond the platform, the trail continues for a short distance to open rocky clearings with equally dramatic panoramas. From these spots, you can look back across the bend in the lake, watch the interplay of light on the water, and see the distant summits of Mount Charlton and Mount Unwin standing like guardians over the Hall of the Gods. The area is peaceful, often filled with the sounds of birds, lapping waves, and the occasional distant echo off the mountainsides.

Though brief, the hike is profoundly rewarding. It allows visitors to pause, move away from the boat crowd, and soak in the spiritual calm and visual splendor of one of Jasper National Park’s most iconic and revered landscapes.

Book the Maligne Lake Boat Cruise
Booking the Boat tour of Maligne Lake and Spirit Island includes All taxes, fees and handling charges.