Western Canada is full of beautiful locations. Often we imagine mountains, trees, lakes, and we love to see the changing of the seasons.
We were looking for such art for our home and saw a photo of Spirit Island and fell in love with it! Though we didn't know where it was at the time. We did an online search and that's how we found out about this incredible little spot, located on Maligne Lake, 47km outside of Jasper, Alberta. We wanted to make this a virtual geocache so other people might stumble across this amazing spot and add their photos of this location.
To log this cache, simply add a photo of the view of Spirit Island.
About Spirit Island:
https://www.jasper.travel/blog/where-spirit-island/
Spirit Island has been a must-see destination for years, but you’ve likely encountered this landmark even beyond the borders of Jasper National Park. Be it in a movie, in a painting, or on a postcard - the beauty and mystery of Spirit Island have been circulated around the globe.
Spirit Island is located halfway down the very long, very beautiful Maligne Lake. It is 14 kilometres away from the nearest road or footpath, and another 47 kilometres from the nearest town, Jasper.
The island is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, who believe mountains are physical representations of their ancestors. The fact that Spirit Island is surrounded on three sides by the same mountain range is very rare and makes it particularly significant to the Stoney.
How to Get to Spirit Island
Maligne Lake is the largest glacially-fed lake in the Canadian Rockies, and surrounded by jaw-dropping mountain peaks. In order to see Spirit Island, from Jasper, take a car or shuttle. You can then take a boat on the lake. There is also a boat service.
Please check in advance of when the boats will be operating, and if they actually go to Spirit Island. You likely will need to book the boat travel in advance. Also, for this reason, this cache is rated a 5 because you need a boat to access this lookout.
Important:
The island is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, or more properly, Ĩyãħé Nakoda First Nation who believe mountains are physical representations of their ancestors. The Indigenous people have 8,000 years plus of ecological knowledge of the lake and island. They know the land and creatures and organisms on it intimately.
Please respect this incredible spot and do not try to walk onto Spirit Island.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.