Maligne Lake, known to First Nations as Chaba Imne (Beaver Lake), is known for its stunning turquoise color. When Henry McLeod scouted routes for Canadian Pacific Railway in 1875, he became the first European to see the lake from afar. But it was two women, Mary Schaeffer and her co-traveler Molly Adams who actually made the trek from Lake Louise in 1908 with two male guides, and were able to explore Maligne Lake by raft.
Today, Maligne Lake is part of Jasper National Park, the largest park in the Canadian Rockies. Jasper National Park has almost 11,000 inspiring square kilometres of valleys, mountains, glaciers and untamed rivers in western Alberta. The park – full of elk, bighorn sheep, mule deer, grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolves, wolverines and other wild animals, was named after Jasper Hawes, who operated a trading post in the region for the North West Company. There are more than 1200 km trails, scenic drives, and loads of different activities.
Maligne Lake is a popular spot for kayaking, canoeing and fishing, and with three campgrounds to choose from (only accessible by kayak or canoe). The lake is the starting point of one of the most popular longer treks in Jasper National Park – the ending point is the town of Jasper.
Jasper National Park is one of the few, great protected areas remaining in the Rocky Mountains.
