Welcome

to Cold Bay - an off-beat community that prides itself on its rugged wilderness and down-to-earth lifestyle. If you've got an adventurous, outdoors spirit and are ready to experience Alaska at its most wild, Cold Bay, with its rich history and front door access to the Izembek National Wilderness area is just the place for you.

Community with a View

On a clear day in Cold Bay, you can see some of the most dramatic sites in the world. To the west, you'll see the National Natural Landmark Shishaldin Volcano. Shishaldin sits about 50 miles away from Cold Bay on Unimak Island. At more than 9,000 feet high, Shishaldin is the tallest volcano on the island. The Aleut name for Shishaldin is Sisquk, which means "mountain which points the way when I am lost." Shishaldin almost always has a puff of steam from its summit crater, hence the nickname "Smoking Moses." It's an active volcano and highly unpredictable.

Frosty Peak, is a 5,803 foot volcano that sits to the southwest of Cold Bay. Topped in snow throughout the year, Mount Frosty's snow melt feeds Russell Creek.

About 35 miles due east are the dramatic Aghileen Pinnacles which form a portion of the boundary between the Izembek and the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. Sitting next to the pinnacles is Pavlov, another active volcano that's visible from Cold Bay. Mount Pavlov is 8,200 feet high. It last erupted in 1996.

A Story Down Every Street

Though you won't see many street signs in Cold Bay most of the streets have names. These names are keys to many of Cold Bay's stories.

Venaminov Circle takes us back to a Russian Orthodox missionary, now known as St. Innocent, who traveled to the Alaska Peninsula in the 1800s. Baranof is named after a Russian trader who managed the Russian-American Fur Company.

It was General William Buckner's plan to secretly build Fort Randall here under the guise of a fish processing plant. Buckner Street honors his contribution to the community.

Reeve Avenue, is named after Bob Reeve who provided the first civilian air passenger service in and out of Cold Bay after World War II.

Dias Avenue, named after long-time resident Gerry Dias who served on the Cold Bay city council for many years, is the most recently named street. The Cold Bay City Council named the street after him when he retired from his job as Cold Bay airport manager. He and his wife are still part time residents in Cold Bay.

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Link

The 417,533 acre Izembek National Wildlife Refuge plays an integral part of everyday life for those lucky enough to live in Cold Bay. The refuge is also a draw for visitors from around the world.

Izembek is home to a wide variety of fish and wildlife in the ecologically unique part of the world. You'll find parka squirrel, fox, caribou, moose, river otter, ermine, brown bear, shorebirds, seabirds and an array of waterfowl here. The coastal waters around the refuge are populated with harbor seal, sea otter, walrus, and Stellar sea lion. Each spring gray, minke, killer and humpback whale migrate through.

Hunting opportunities for brown bear, caribou and waterfowl in Izembek and the entire region are world famous. When salmon are running, brown bear densities are among the highest recorded in Alaska.

At the heart of the Refuge is the Izembek Lagoon. Home to some of the largest eelgrass beds in the world, the lagoon provides feeding and resting grounds for hundreds of thousands of birds. More than 98 percent of the world's Pacific black brant arrive on Izembek Lagoon each fall to feed on eelgrass in preparation for their 3,000 mile non-stop flight to Mexico. Other birds traveling through the refuge each fall include mallards, Canada Geese, rock sandpipers and dunlins. Steller's eiders and emperor geese stay through the winter.

A visitor's center is located at the Refuge headquarters. Here you'll find several wildlife displays, maps and other information. Refuge staff are available to answer questions and provide more information.

Local Businesses (907 area codes):
Alaska Marine Ferry
Alaska Central Express (freight) 532-2407
Alan & Letty Truck Rental 532-2478
Cold Bay Lodge 532-2767
The Bearfoot Inn Store 532-2327 Lodging 532-2437 Bar 532-2451
The Bayview B & B 532-5140
Frosty Fuels 532-2467, 532-2817 fax, michaeltickle@hotmail.com
Frosty Mountain Lodge 1-877-376-7896, 532-2011
Izembek Lodge 1-888-797-5520, 532-2896
Peninsula Airways 532-2485
R & R Guide Service 532-2797, 346-3983
True Alaskan Adventure 1-877-376-7896


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Welcome to Cold Bay - an off-beat community that prides itself on its rugged wilderness and down-to-earth lifestyle. If you've got an adventurous, outdoors spirit and are ready to experience Alaska at its most wild, Cold Bay, with its rich history and front door access to the Izembek National Wilderness area is just the place for you. Community with a View On a clear day in Cold Bay, you can see some of the most dramatic sites in the world. To the west, you'll see the National Natural Landmark Shishaldin Volcano. Shishaldin sits about 50 miles away from Cold Bay on Unimak Island. At more than 9,000 feet high, Shishaldin is the tallest volcano on the island. The Aleut name for Shishaldin is Sisquk, which means "mountain which points the way when I am lost." Shishaldin almost always has a puff of steam from its summit crater, hence the nickname "Smoking Moses." It's an active volcano and highly unpredictable. Frosty Peak, is a 5,803 foot volcano that sits to the southwest of Cold Bay. Topped in snow throughout the year, Mount Frosty's snow melt feeds Russell Creek. About 35 miles due east are the dramatic Aghileen Pinnacles which form a portion of the boundary between the Izembek and the Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge. Sitting next to the pinnacles is Pavlov, another active volcano that's visible from Cold Bay. Mount Pavlov is 8,200 feet high. It last erupted in 1996. A Story Down Every Street Though you won't see many street signs in Cold Bay most of the streets have names. These names are keys to many of Cold Bay's stories. Venaminov Circle takes us back to a Russian Orthodox missionary, now known as St. Innocent, who traveled to the Alaska Peninsula in the 1800s. Baranof is named after a Russian trader who managed the Russian-American Fur Company. It was General William Buckner's plan to secretly build Fort Randall here under the guise of a fish processing plant. Buckner Street honors his contribution to the community. Reeve Avenue, is named after Bob Reeve who provided the first civilian air passenger service in and out of Cold Bay after World War II. Dias Avenue, named after long-time resident Gerry Dias who served on the Cold Bay city council for many years, is the most recently named street. The Cold Bay City Council named the street after him when he retired from his job as Cold Bay airport manager. He and his wife are still part time residents in Cold Bay. Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Link The 417,533 acre Izembek National Wildlife Refuge plays an integral part of everyday life for those lucky enough to live in Cold Bay. The refuge is also a draw for visitors from around the world. Izembek is home to a wide variety of fish and wildlife in the ecologically unique part of the world. You'll find parka squirrel, fox, caribou, moose, river otter, ermine, brown bear, shorebirds, seabirds and an array of waterfowl here. The coastal waters around the refuge are populated with harbor seal, sea otter, walrus, and Stellar sea lion. Each spring gray, minke, killer and humpback whale migrate through. Hunting opportunities for brown bear, caribou and waterfowl in Izembek and the entire region are world famous. When salmon are running, brown bear densities are among the highest recorded in Alaska. At the heart of the Refuge is the Izembek Lagoon. Home to some of the largest eelgrass beds in the world, the lagoon provides feeding and resting grounds for hundreds of thousands of birds. More than 98 percent of the world's Pacific black brant arrive on Izembek Lagoon each fall to feed on eelgrass in preparation for their 3,000 mile non-stop flight to Mexico. Other birds traveling through the refuge each fall include mallards, Canada Geese, rock sandpipers and dunlins. Steller's eiders and emperor geese stay through the winter. A visitor's center is located at the Refuge headquarters. Here you'll find several wildlife displays, maps and other information. Refuge staff are available to answer questions and provide more information. Local Businesses (907 area codes): Alaska Marine Ferry Alaska Central Express (freight) 532-2407 Alan & Letty Truck Rental 532-2478 Cold Bay Lodge 532-2767 The Bearfoot Inn Store 532-2327 Lodging 532-2437 Bar 532-2451 The Bayview B & B 532-5140 Frosty Fuels 532-2467, 532-2817 fax, michaeltickle@hotmail.com Frosty Mountain Lodge 1-877-376-7896, 532-2011 Izembek Lodge 1-888-797-5520, 532-2896 Peninsula Airways 532-2485 R & R Guide Service 532-2797, 346-3983 True Alaskan Adventure 1-877-376-7896