Red and white floatplane mountain lake sunset

Across most of the United States, traveling from town to town takes little more than hopping on the interstate. Not so in Alaska, where many communities are so remote they lack road access. The solution? Take to the skies. Whether supported by floats, skis, or sturdy tires, bush planes are the conveyance of choice for folks all over the Last Frontier. Skilled pilots make air travel possible where runways are impossible, relying on their rigs' short takeoff and landing capabilities to achieve altitude from small lakes, short land spits, and other tight spots. There are even competitions where bush pilots vie for the shortest landing stop: The best of the best can drop their craft on a dime, with the record landing measuring less than 10 feet.