Green Aurora Borealis, Snow-capped Mountains, Lake Reflection, Red Canoe, Spirit Island, Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Great green north?

The pine-lined Spirit Island, one of the most commonly photographed sights in Canada, rises from glassy glacial waters under an uncommonly intense aurora. Here on Maligne Lake, the largest natural lake in Jasper National Park and the Canadian Rockies, cruise boats offer tourists their own opportunity to snap close-ups of the famous island between spring and fall. Alternatively, if that red canoe in our shot is calling your name, you can grab a rental from the north end of the lake. But if Spirit Island is your goal, set aside a full day and get pumped to paddle hard: From the boathouse, it's about a 9-mile trip each way.