Maligne Lake Area

Maligne lake and Maligne Lake Road (which follows the Maligne river past Maligne Canyon and Medicine Lake) are perhaps the most scenic parts of Jasper National Park.

Maligne Lake is famed for the colour of its water, the surrounding peaks, the three glaciers visible from the lake and Spirit Island, one of the most photographed locations in the world. Maligne Lake is the location of two Alberta registered historic buildings, the Maligne Lake Chalet and the Boathouse, built by Donald 'Curly' Philips in 1928. Maligne Lake is the largest lake in Jasper National Park. The valley in which the lake lies was carved and excavated by valley glaciers, and the lake has been dammed at its northern end by an end moraine deposited by the last glacier, which flowed down the valley towards the Athabasca River. The glacial deposits and landforms forming the end moraine are excellent examples of glacial deposition

At the northern end of the lake, the Maligne River river flows out of the lake in a narrow channel to Medicine Lake. There is no visible northern outlet from Medicine Lake because the Maligne River flows underground (except during flood) for 9 miles (14 km) before reappearing in its remarkable canyon.