Payne's Air Service

Operates off Seventh Lake at Inlet, on Route 28, in the western side of the central Adirondacks. The fleet runs floatplanes, which is the only way to put down on a remote pond without a road or a long carry. Scenic flights are the casual entry point; fly-in trips are the reason the business exists. The fly-in service drops anglers, hunters, and campers on backcountry waters that take a half-day of paddling and carries to reach by canoe, and picks them up on a scheduled day. For visitors who want to see country that genuinely doesn't see foot traffic, this is the way in. The operation has 50-plus years of flying these lakes, which counts for something when you're sitting on a pond waiting for a pickup. Licensed, insured, air carrier certified. Book well ahead for September fishing and October hunting windows; the calendar fills.