Medicine Lake, Jasper

Medicine Lake is a seasonal lake, located on Maligne Lake Road about halfway between Highway 16 and Maligne Lake. Basically, the basin fills up in spring and then slowly drains. I've never had the chance to paddle here and we were hopeful there would still be enough water in September for a chance. No joy, though!

The best access looks to be from the lookout on the west end of the lake. There is parking lot and a set of stairs. When the lake is full, it would be a short carry to the water. The lake was down about 40 feet when we were there so the carry to the bottom was longer and there wasn't much lake to paddle.

Below, looking up from the lake to the parking lot.

It also looks like you might be able to access the lake at the west end, either by parking in the Jacques Lake trail head and carrying across the road and down the slope, or by pulling into an unmarked parking area at the far east end of the lake, carrying a ways down a closed road, and then down the slope to the lake.

You can see, based upon the scum lines on the slope in the photo below, how much the lake had dropped over the season.

I was disappointed not to get the chance to paddle the lake (which was mostly exposed mud bottom). But the views were amazing. I'm also interested to see what Jacques Lake holds.

Maybe next time!