A day in Jasper National Park

As we only had one day in Jasper, we decided to make only a few stops as there are too many beautiful things to do! We went to make a little hike around Lake Annette this morning. The colors are just stunning! And as usual, I jumped in the water! It is freezing but so good for your body and mind! Then we drove to Maligne Canyon to make a little hike from the First Bridge to the Fifth Bridge and learn a little about it! Medicine Lake is like a giant leaky bathtub. It drains through a potentially enormous underground cave system, re-surfacing about 16 km downstream, through springs along the walls of Maligne Canyon. The water can take less than 12 hours during peak run-off-times or as long as 88 hours during the winter to complete its underground journey.
At the waterfalls near the First Bridge, the Maligne River flows at a few cubic meters per second during an average June day. Up to 45 cubic meters of water per second can pass out of the canyon below the Sixth Bridge during the same day. The additional water comes from springs between the Fourth and the Fifth Bridges, turning the meandering Maligne River into a torrent of rushing water.
Maligne Canyon is the deepest canyon in Jasper National Park with a depth of 50 meters at specific points.
After the walk, we went to Maligne Lake, it is after Medicine Lake, and it took almost 1hour to get there as the road as the scenic view, so you want to stop almost at all of them! As we were tired of our hiking before, I wanted to go and have a look at this cruise, which brings you to Spirit Island, and they had two spots open for us at 6 PM. It was perfect timing as the boat was the last one of the day, and it’s always great to see the colors changing! Spirit Island is an island but not during the summer as there is less water, but I totally understand why people want to go there!
Spirit Island, named by the Stoney Nation indigenous people for the experiences their ancestors had at this place centuries ago, is a tiny grove of trees and pristine nature separated from the mainland by an isthmus. Spirit Island becomes a real island for a few short days during the summer.
Spirit Island’s real attraction is the backdrop: a ring of impressive peaks and glaciers circling the south end of Maligne Lake, and the deep turquoise watercolor not present at the North end of the lake. A short path forms a loop from the docks to viewing points overlooking Spirit Island. To preserve the area in its natural state, walking onto the island is not permitted.
A story is told that if God were going back on Earth, he would come back to this specific location with his disciples as they would have their seat directly on the mountain around the island (it’s why very often this place is called Good’s home on Earth)
We learned that even nowadays, the place is still sacred and that some indigenous people go there to make their celebrations. You can feel this unique atmosphere!!
On your way back with the boat, we saw a Moose in the water, so we went there to take some pictures. And on your way back to Jasper, we saw some elks.
Jasper National Park is fantastic, but I think that one day is not enough to discover everything, but we are so glad that we did it!!! It is probably going to be another trip from BC this time!