Neighbors· 6 min read
False Pass is smaller than Cold Bay — about 40 year-round residents — and sits on the north shore of Unimak Island, at the narrow, current-swept strait that early Russian navigators called false because it looked wider than it is. It's the geographic hinge between the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands, and one of the most interesting quick side trips from Cold Bay.
01
The setting
The strait — Isanotski Strait, or 'False Pass' — carries strong tidal currents between the Bering Sea and the North Pacific. Unimak Island rises behind the town in a wall of active volcanoes: Shishaldin (9,373 ft, one of the most perfectly conical volcanoes on Earth), Isanotski, and Roundtop. On a clear day the volcano views alone are worth the flight.
- ◆Population: ~40 year-round
- ◆Distance from Cold Bay: 40 miles by air
- ◆Backdrop: Shishaldin Volcano, 9,373 ft
02
The fishery
False Pass is a small but active salmon town. The Peter Pan / Silver Bay Seafoods plant processes June sockeye and later pinks and chum. In summer the harbor fills with drift and set-net boats working the strait and the outer beaches. It's a working port first, a visitor destination second — ask permission before photographing operations.
03
How to visit
Ravn / regional bush carriers fly False Pass from Cold Bay in a Grand Caravan, typically several times a week, weather permitting. There is very limited public lodging — plan to be hosted through a fishing or wildlife-viewing operator, or make it a same-day round trip. Bring cash and food; retail options are minimal.
04
What to see
The harbor and cannery, the WWII-era radar site above town, sea otters and Steller sea lions in the strait, and — with a boat — access to the Unimak coast, which holds some of the largest coastal brown bears on the planet on rarely-visited salmon streams. If you're an experienced backcountry traveler, a guided Unimak trip is a genuine expedition.
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Plan the trip
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