Maligne Lake lies at the end of Maligne Lake Road in Jasper National Park, a mountain lake about 22 km long from the boat launch to its south end. Paddlers put in at the public ramp on the west side and leave cars in the secondary lot near the warden station. Parks Canada runs three paddle-in campgrounds: Hidden Cove at 4 km, Fisherman's Bay at 13 km and Coronet Creek at the far end, 21.3 km out. Samson Narrows and Spirit Island lie just beyond Fisherman's Bay; camping is not allowed at Spirit Island, and tour boats visit it during the day. Overnight trips need a reserved backcountry permit, with a limit of two nights per campground. The water stays near 4 C, strong wind and sudden weather changes are common, snow can fall in any month, and Parks Canada advises against crossing the lake in poor weather. Mornings are usually calmest.
The difficulty of Maligne Lake varies by section. Whitewater ratings are not exact: grades change with water level and season. Verify current conditions locally before you paddle.
The best time is Ice-free from late May or early June; peak July-August.
Maligne Lake is located in the Canadian Rockies (Jasper) region of Canada.
Straight-line distance between route centres.
parks.canada.ca · offtracktravel.ca
Conditions change with water level and season. Grades and positions are for planning, not navigation. Verify locally before you paddle. Terms of use
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