Maligne Lookout Winter Weddings and Elopements
When it comes to outdoor winter weddings and elopements in Jasper National Park, Maligne Lookout is an often overlooked (pun-intended) ceremony location that has a lot to offer for ease of access and beautiful views. In the winter there aren’t a whole lot of outdoor ceremony locations in Jasper for larger weddings that don’t have the flexibility of just setting up anywhere (like elopements do). The most common, aside from the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge which comes with a higher price tag, are Pyramid Island, Tekarra Overlook, and Maligne Lookout.
Maligne Lookout is situated on the cusp of the Maligne Valley above Maligne Canyon, which is where the Maligne River flows down into the Athabasca River valley. From the lookout you get a beautiful view of Pyramid Island, as well as Mount Edith Cavell, Whistler’s mountain, and the town of Jasper. Maligne lookout is well situated for afternoon weddings in the winter in regards to the direction and angle of the sun, and it is actually usually more favourable than Pyramid Island on a sunny day. That being said, both are beautiful in any weather!
One really big advantage of Maligne Lookout for winter weddings in Jasper is the big parking lot directly adjacent that Parks Canada keeps clear of snow. It is only a few steps to the lookout from the parking lot, and there are also good clean outhouses and garbage cans available. There is even a small gazebo at the lookout, but unless you are eloping it is not really suitable for ceremony use. The lookout area is paved, so there is the option to set up chairs and everything easily, so long as you keep them within the Parks Canada allowable limit. One potential disadvantage about Maligne Lookout is that you cannot reserve it for private functions, or book a specific time slot like you can at Pyramid Island, or Athabasca Day Use Area in the summertime.
Accessibility is an important consideration when planning a winter wedding. Is the site easy for my guests to walk to? If it is really cold, can they get back to their vehicle or indoors quickly to warm up? These things aren’t an issue at Maligne Lookout.
Things to know when planning an outdoor wedding ceremony at Maligne Lookout:
The lookout is a 12-15 minute drive from Jasper townsite on the Maligne Lake Road.
All guests will need to purchase a park pass on their way in to Jasper National Park.
Parking, outhouses, and garbage cans are only steps away. There is also a small gazebo and some picnic tables.
This public location can’t be reserved for private functions, there may be sightseers coming and going through the area while you are there.
Follow parks rules and regulations, and always leave no trace.
This is a great location for sunset and golden hour! In fact, if you are eloping, then this is the number one time of day we would recommend for this location.
Maligne Lookout Directions
Maligne lookout is easy to get to from the town of Jasper. Head east on Highway 16 until you come to the traffic lights at the turn for Jasper Park Lodge and Maligne Lake. Turn right over the bridge, and then stay left to head up the Maligne Lake Road.
The easiest way? Use this google map below to figure out how to get there from your location.
Jasper Outdoor Ceremony Locations
Jasper outdoor ceremony locations are limited in the winter if you are looking to have lots of people and/or chairs. The primary options are to go through a venue like the Jasper Park Lodge, which offers the easiest solution for big weddings, or to set up somewhere like Pyramid Island or Maligne Lookout. In the summer there is also the options of Maligne Lake Chalet and the Athabasca Day Use Area, as well as Tekarra Lookout at Tekarra Lodge.
When it comes to eloping in Jasper, outdoor ceremony spots are far easier to come by. When it is just the two of you and your marriage commissioner, you can stand beside a scenic stretch of river, climb up Old Fort Point or another beautiful vantage point, or choose just about anywhere that is special to you. We’ve even had people head up the chairlift at Marmot Basin ski hill.
However you plan to be married, Jasper National Park is a perfect place for an outdoor wedding ceremony. The mountains can be unpredictable when it comes to weather, but the views will no doubt make up for it!
Wedding Photo Locations Near Maligne Lookout
Being on the Maligne Lake Road opens up some really unique and beautiful portrait locations nearby. Depending on the time of year, Maligne Canyon itself might be an incredible place for wedding or elopement photos. In the wintertime you can head right into the canyon from the bottom, and the trail is beautiful as well. Check out our post on Maligne Canyon wedding photography here. Be warned, the Maligne Canyon trail can be very, very busy in the summertime!
Heading further up the road towards Maligne Lake there are many beautiful spots along the Maligne River, as well as at Medicine Lake (like in these photos) and up to Maligne Lake. Medicine Lake is about a 15-20 minute drive from Maligne Lookout, and Maligne Lake is another 15-20 minutes from there. If you don’t mind the driving time, both offer stunning mountain vistas that are different year round.
In these photos below you can see why we think Medicine Lake is such an amazing photo location. These images were taken just a few hundred feet from the road.
