Maligne Lake
One of the stories that I found fascinating was how the lake, river, mountain and pass got their names – all named Maligne, pronounced “ma-LEEN”. Well, the person officially tasked with naming everything in the area was not a Canadian, but an American! Mary Schaffer was an explorer and artist and determined to find the large lake that only the indigenous people had visited. In her research she read the account of a French trader who called the river maligne. He called it that because of its treacherous current where it meets the Athabasca River and almost lost his life, but Mary, not knowing French, thought it was such a beautiful sounding name.
Maligne Lake glaciers 
Red Chairs Maligne Lake 
Spirit Island 
Maligne Lake Boathouse 
Maligne Lake restaurant 
Maligne Lake mountains
Spirit Island
The backdrop of impressive mountain peaks and glaciers are the BIG attraction of Spirit Island.
The cruise on Maligne Lake to tiny Spirit Island is one of the activities I wanted to do in Jasper National Park – this one you have to book in advance to make sure you get on board, but it’s worth it! The stop at Spirit Island is only about 15-20 minutes but quite long enough because there isn’t any hiking to do, just a path to see the magnificent view from a variety of angles. Then back on the boat for the scenic cruise back on the opposite side of the lake. Aside from the spectacular scenery, only marred by the haze from smoke from all the Canadian wildfires, the cruise is enhanced by a tour guide telling all about the landscape and history as you’re cruising by.
Wanderlust: n. a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world.
