Mecham Outfitters

McLain and Merilee Mecham run Mecham Outfitters from Tropic, Utah, a ranch town at the foot of the Paunsaugunt Plateau southeast of Bryce Canyon. The Mecham family has been in these mountains for generations — their cowboy roots reach back more than a century in the area — and McLain guides the terrain with the kind of specificity that only comes from having ridden it across a lifetime.

The outfitter's trail program runs both horses and mules. Half-day options include Willis Creek slot canyon ($125), Thunder Mountain ($135), and Rock Springs Draw ($125) — each a distinct terrain type within the Grand Staircase–Escalante and Dixie National Forest corridor. Full-day rides go deeper into Henderson Canyon, Powell Point, and the Johnson Hole Paria country ($155). Multi-day packs run up to five days. All rides are private and personalized; there's a four-rider minimum.

Mecham Outfitters also runs big-game hunting in the Mt. Dutton, Boulder Mountain, and Paunsaugunt units — elk, mule deer, mountain lion, bear, pronghorn, and turkey — which speaks to the scale of the permitted territory they operate across. TripAdvisor reviewers consistently single out McLain's geological and historical narration as the distinguishing quality of the experience.

**Verification notes** Website live; McLain and Merilee Mecham confirmed as owners across search results and review descriptions. Family history in the region described in multiple reviews. Trail names and prices confirmed on website. Phone and P.O. Box (Tropic, UT 84776) confirmed. TripAdvisor: 5.0 rating across 44 reviews.