Riding with the Wayback Machine, in 1977 we flew into the Allagash (Chesuncook???), and they shuttled my car to the takeout at Allagash for $150 for the two of us and my 14' aluminum canoe . I'll take a dozen, thank you.
Red lake to Donald Lake cost me 435 canadian for our WCPP trip. The flight was part of trip that had waited a long time so I wasn't going to question the cost.
I planned but forgot to mention that rates are higher in areas where fuel has to be transported a great distance. This definitely applies for "North of 60" routes.
In contrast to Wayback, this summer's flights to/from the Horton, in a Pilatus Porter, came to $20,000 CDN!!!! It worked out to $4K US per person (4 of us) which is a lot, but seeing a $20,000 flight bill catches your attention. That's about $20 CDN per mile.
Float-Plane Charter Service Flights up to 40 miles Lakes including Bigshell, Glenn, Hansen, Kilburn, Knox, Linge, Larus, Mexican Hat, Murdock, Olive and others. 1-2 Passengers One Canoe -$430.00 US per drop off or pick-up 4 Passengers Two Canoes -$580.00 US per drop off or pick-up 6 Passengers...
www.goldseekers.net
So yes, if you did a fly in and paddled back to Red Lake, or to a road access point, you could still have a reasonably economical vacation including a fly-in.