Pedersen Lagoon

Pedersen Lagoon is a remote coastal lagoon in Aialik Bay, with a landing beach and a one-acre public campsite on the spit inside the lower lagoon. Most visitors reach the area by kayak or water taxi. This is a backcountry stop, not a road pullout; the public easement allows a stay of up to 24 hours.

The entrance from Aialik Bay is a tidal channel. Enter and leave within a few hours of high tide: currents can become hazardous near low tide, and breaking surf can make the outer beach impossible to land on. Glacial change and rough seas can alter the shoreline, so carry a chart and check conditions before committing to the landing.

The public easement is only one acre. Land above mean high tide beyond it belongs to Port Graham Village Corporation, and on-foot exploration there requires a special permit. Stick to established trails and campsites to protect the vegetation. The campsites have a food locker and hanging cable, but a food-storage box at the easement was damaged in 2024; verify what is available before relying on on-site storage.

The lower lagoon is influenced by the tide; the upper basin is a separate glacier-fed lake at Pedersen Glacier. In August 2024, a landslide into the upper lagoon produced tsunami run-up of at least 56 feet there and about 3 feet in the lower lagoon. The steep, ice-carved setting is still changing.

The campsite shore opens onto the lagoon with glacier and mountain walls beyond. For a photo, leave a strip of shore and water in the foreground so the lagoon reads as clearly as the ice.