This was hands down the BEST part of our costal Maine trip. Henry was our climbing guide and was very knowledgeable and friendly. He provided us the exact tailored experience we were looking for. From climbing directly over to the ocean to more inland within the Acadia National Park - Henry helped create an unforgettable experience. Thank you for such a great service at a very reasonable price! read more

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Great experience, highly recommend. My daughter and I went to Otter cliffs, one of the best parts of our vacation.

What an experience! This was my first time toprope climbing - my group consisted of two more experienced climbers. I am new to the sport and haven't much experience (even indoor) but our guide, Dick was super knowledgeable about weather patterns & climbing. Learned a lot about climbing technique & can even tie a knot or two now. Otter cliffs offered stunning views & routes suitable for all skill levels. Definitely gets the blood pumping. Shout-out to Dick for helping shape the perfect climbing experience for my group! read more

We took care of a bucket list item yesterday by hiring a guide from Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School for a half-day climbing experience! It was so much fun and well prepared by our guide, Andrew. We had to start off by asking for a partial refund as two of our six climbers decided they were not going to climb. The staff made some checks and said that the credit card would be deducted $60. No problems here! The next step was to head upstairs and sign waivers and get climbing gear including shoes, harness, and helmet. Again, smooth sailing. Since we had room in our car for Andrew, we took him along and headed into Acadia National Park. Andrew chose for us to try a section called The Bubbles, and more specifically, South Bubble. According to the sign-in book at the start of the trail to get there, about 700 people a year climb this section of Acadia. It took about a 1/4 mile up some very rocky (bouldery?) terrain and we almost felt like we would be slammed by the end but we all survived including my 74-year-old dad which I think is the oldest Andrew ever brought in a climbing group. Once we got to the Bubble, we learned how to tie a proper knot, and Andrew went ahead to set up the ropes. We also got a quick lesson on belaying but Andrew was more than helpful with answering our questions and being patient with us. He set up two lines each about 30' up what seemed like near vertical rock. He said it would rate about a 5.5 on the scales they use for difficulty. My kids did very well and every time they felt that that had to rest or try and figure out the best way to get up, Andrew and my family were quick to offer positive reinforcement so that they succeeded in getting to the top. Once they did, then they got to rappel down. I was able to get about 90% of one route and 100% of the other even though they were right next to each other by only about six feet. The four of us were able to get two attempts each; one left and one right side. Then, because of time (and you do get very tired), we were allowed to attempt one more climb in a different section, or just to rappel down. I chose to rappel and my kid chose climbing so he got to rappel, too. My stepmother chose to rappel. After some set-up by Andrew, we got to accomplish all of this. Unfortunately, this meant our half-day was over and we all had to hike back over the boulders and drive back to base out of Acadia. We returned the equipment and gave Andrew a tip. Andrew who was finishing up college and did this for a summer job was very professional, patient, and extremely knowledgeable about climbing. I'd recommend asking for him if he's available. I'd also recommend a couple of things such as wearing lightweight long sleeved shirts and long pants but not jeans. The sun is hot out there! Bring water and maybe some appropriate snacks. Sunglasses are helpful. You have to be somewhat in shape but even for someone like me with not that great upper body strength was competent in getting to where I needed to go. As Andrew told us, "Trust your feet." The footwear grips very well. And my dad got over the boulders with a camera bag to boot. The cost for us was about $300 + tip. We booked months in advance. I don't think rock climbing is again in my future but I'm very happy that my family and I participated in this very exciting day. I'd like to go rappelling, though. I highly recommend Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School for an awesome day. Andrew, again, helped make the day great. No one got hurt, and he was very encouraging to us all. read more

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Definitely the highlight of our Maine trip. We did the half day climb at otter cliffs - the views were stunning and we definitely got a good workout out of it. Our guide Alec was fantastic, lots of climbing facts, enthusiasm, and help when we needed it. The booking process was also easy - staff were very friendly and helpful. We've never climbed outside before, so this was a great experience. Highly recommend the half day options for first-timers. read more

We had an amazing time rock climbing with Celeste! We did an almost full day of rockclimbing. We basically got rained out but Celeste was a great guide. She was so funny and helpful, which made me feel more comfortable. I felt safe the entire time and she helped to adjust the level of skill required to what we could do. We had initially booked a full day but due to the rainy weather had to cut it short. They were willing to adjust the cost to accommodate the change, which was really nice of them. I highly recommend this company for rock climbing in Acadia. We are complete newbies but it was a wonderful experience even in such rainy weather. read more

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Had a fantastic half day family climb session, with Alec as our guide. Highly recommend!

My organization recently partnered with Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School to conduct a Resiliency Retreat. We could not have selected a better activity or guides to conduct this instruction. Dick and Celeste were OUTSTANDING! They were very encouraging and were excellent confidence builders. I know the participants really got a lot out of the experience and made the connections on the life lessons mountain climbing teaches. Thank you Acadia Mountain Guides! I am looking forward to climbing with you again in the future! read more

Pat was a good guide and took the time to focus on my children learning. They are 7 and 9 and we went to the canyon in Acadia. He showed me how to tie off as well. It rained during our entire climb and we probably should not have attempted it but we did it. The kids were cold and grumpy but got in some climbs. Unfortunately, my wife and I only got in one climb, which was a real bummer. Our climb was also cut short by 90 minutes after we had a 30 minute delay because of the heavy rain. I asked for a discount when we returned and it was not going to be easy. First they offered 10% then 20% and we agreed on a 40% discount, which was fair. This review would have been much different without that discount because I told them before leaving that we should not go and they urged us to do it and the rain just kept coming. I wish we could have experienced this in better weather but we all made the best of it and the discount made it a worthwhile experience. read more

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School - The beehive in Acadia. - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

I highly recommend this place. We did the half day starting in the morning and were taken to the Otter cliffs! It was so perfect. It was great to climb cliffs next to the waves. Our guide Emily was excellent at instructing and helping us if we got stuck. She was incredibly nice. Definitely a neat thing to do in Maine! read more

Our family of four had a great climbing adventure yesterday with Devin, our guide. Devin was super friendly, knowledgeable, and talented climber. He quickly established multiple routes and then took time to explain all safety protocols. Our climbing day was so far the highlight of our BH vacation. We climbed an area called south wall, just south of precipice trail. Loved it so much, we're gonna climb one more time this week, hopefully on the otter cliffs. read more

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Nick did a great job finding a spot that was not only beautiful but had enough options to keep our diverse group of 4 engaged. Very safe and professional and he was great with our kids that have never climbed outside. We will be back. If you haven't done it, than this is the best way to see Acadia. Thank you! read more

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The guided climbing tours were amazing. My girlfriend and I paid $260 in total to go for 4 hours to climb at Otter Cliffs in Acadia. The people inside the store were very nice and helpful with booking us beforehand. All the gear and shoes were included with the price of the tour. Our guide, Mack, was very knowledgeable and explained many of the different types of equipment she was setting up. She was very kind, helpful, and encouraging while we climbed. Mack helped us become acclimated with outdoor climbing and even helped us reach a little outside our comfort zone. We felt very safe during the entire session because she made safety a top priority. I would highly recommend these tours to anyone regardless of climbing experience/skill! read more

We had the groupon for this and it was well worth it. In fact, we would be willing to fork out the cash for a private trip! With an amazing guide, Zach, we had a great time climbing on the cliffs. We learned a few new techniques for climbing and they were great in letting us use our own harnesses and shoes. Getting to be so close to the coat and the gorgeous scenery made the little bit of time spent waiting for the other climbers to ascend and descend way better. Definitely the highlight of our trip, well worth it. read more

We had an excellent time with Copp and John. They're very fun to be around, and also extremely safe and conscientious with beginner climbers. They took us to a climb that had a great mix of difficulty levels for our group, and the natural scenery in the area is just breathtaking. Highly recommended even (especially) for total beginners. read more

Towards the end of the season my boyfriend and I spent the weekend at Acadia. I did my research and found the Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School. I called them up and said I wanted to climb the otter cliffs in Acadia National Park. They were very courteous, prompt, and informative. Our guide Dick met us as the shop and set us up with the equipment. They we all rode together in my car. On the ride he was telling us about the area and his experience. He was so friendly and really knew his stuff. What I really loved about him was that he made sure we were learning about the ropes, safety, and gave us tips throughout our climb. Most guides i have been with don't go into detail about rope tying and will usually just do it themselves. Dick showed us and had us go through it several times. I have never climber before but have gone rappelling. All you need to know is how to use mostly your lower body. This is so easy and even good for kids. I highly recommend this group! read more

Great tour. A top highlight of our trip to MDI. Me, wife, and two 10 year old daughters, total and complete novices, climbed otter cliff. Our guide,Forest, was amazingly patient and helpful to our kids who conquered their fears and the cliffs several times. Highly recommend this outfit and Forest. read more

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School - Otter Cliff - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Felt totally safe the entire time. Went to otter cliffs and the view was absolutely amazing. Whole family had never gone climbing before, but this was a great introduction. Would definitely recommend and come again. read more

Our family of four had a terrific evening climb with Paddy over the seas at Otter Cliffs. He was incredibly competent and professional, but also fun and engaging. We felt safe and had a blast. Definitely recommend. read more

Challenging- but fun! We went out on a cloudy, foggy day to the Otter Banks, but still had an awesome time! Alex was our guide, he was personable, professional and relatable. Rock climbing is definitely challenging (and we are pretty athletic people), but Alex took us down a couple of great cliffs. read more

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School - Outdoor Gear Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Rock Climbing with Acadia Mountain Guides was an awesome addition to our vacation! We had amazing tour guides, who were very knowledgable and who I trusted to keep us safe. Specifically, we climbed with Cop and Savannah. They challenged us and encouraged us, making it a great experience!!! read more

I was a little uncertain about taking my 8 year old daughter, but the guide put me totally at ease. It was really fun and although it was a little daunting, it was an awesome experience. The company set us up with all the gear we needed. We had an evening climb so it was cool and there was no pressure. I would recommend this Company to anyone that even has a mild interest in climbing. They were thorough, engaging and interesting. read more

Completely positive experience with this outfit. Our guide Zach was terrific. Sending your kids over a 60 foot cliff is a swallow hard moment, but the experience was outstanding and my kids LOVED it. read more

One of the best vacation adventures we've ever had. Andrew, our guide, was outstanding! His patience with my three young boys (13, 10 & 8 yo) made it easy for me to relax and enjoy the moment. Otter Cliffs was an excellent choice for our climbing adventure. read more

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Rock climbing was great. We had Patty and another guide and they were knowledgeable and made the whole group comfortable with the climbing on the side of the ocean. I would recommend doing this and using Acadia Mountain Guides to anyone that goes to Acadia! read more

We had a great climb with Pat! Super knowledgable, my husband and I both learned a lot from him. It was a great experience we would recommend to others. read more

i'm not gay "not that there's anything wrong with that," (remember Seinfeld) but... Dick=Awesome for rock climbing..... read more

Great small group beginners climb. Guide was patient and a good judge of skill. Loved it.

First time outdoor rock climber who did a half day with my girlfriend. They were very friendly about rescheduling when we accidentally booked a month in advance and our guide (Mark) was the perfect blend of friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. Our climbs were definitely challenging but we didn't feel in danger, Mark was very good at explaining the different safety mechanisms in place and letting us decide how much climbing / knot tying / belaying we wanted to do. I would definitely go back! read more

Beginner and Trevor was really good at keeping us calm, safe, and having a great time. If you're going to rock climb, definitely go with Arcadia. read more

My wife and I went on a half day climbing tour with just the two of us. We have very different fitness levels but neither had outdoor climbing experience. At first we were hesitant given the price for 2 people on a half day excursion. But we could not have been happier - well worth the price! It was an absolutely incredible experience! Both of us had a blast! Christian was a wonderful guide! We got to dictate which climbs we did and both ended up doing about 7 climbs tailored to our climbing skills. We stayed by the water the whole time. The views were incredible and we even got to see a seal!! I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a great way to spend a half day and see some incredible scenery. It surpassed our expectations! read more

This place rocks. We had Zach and Zach as our guides. They were patient, super knowledgeable and oh so awesome! The ages of people in our group ranged from 3 to 43 and the climbs they set up for us were perfect. We all had a really great time! read more

This was the highlight of my family vacation. The instructors were very safe,nice, knowledgable,fun,and experienced. My instructors, Christian and Andrew were spectacular. It was great for all ages. read more

we went for a half day of climbing. our guide (nick) did a great job explaining basics of outdoor climbing and helped us feel safe while enjoying the adventure. he inspected our gear to ensure everything was good to go beforehand, selected a climbing spot appropriate for our level (easy but still interesting), and answered our many questions along the way. we also appreciated the COVID19 precautions that the climbing school set up - masks, waivers etc outdoors, staggering group climbing times to allow social distancing, etc. read more

Me and my Family had a fantastic experience climbing with Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School and would recommend them to anyone who is looking to do some climbing while visiting Acadia National Park. The guide was very friendly and he took some time to talk with me and my family as to what kind of climbing experience we were looking for. I liked that they provided all the equipment that is needed to go climbing as well. I got some great views and pictures of the park and its beauty that not a lot of other people get to see since you need to climb to get to these sites. At no point was I worried about my safety at all or the safety of my children. On a side note you get a lifetime 15% off at their sister company that is in the same building, Alpenglow Adventure Sports. It is a full "gear" shop as they put it but other than rock climbing equipment, they have some very high end tents, backpacks, and other camping/expedition equipment that could come in real use in and around the park, or even back home. read more

Highly recommend. Our guide Nick was great and engaging. We only got the half day but it went by so fast we wished we had booked full day instead. read more

We did the morning climbing school with our family and two kids (aged 9 and 11). The scenery was great and we had fun. The only part that kept this from being a higher rating was the that the college-aged female guide never took the time to get to know us. She seemed a bit snarky; perhaps that's the generation? Moreover, we climbed on the exact same spot for the 4 hours. Would have liked to try out a different spot. Not a bad company if you are looking for a fun activity with the family. read more

We had a great time during our climbing session with Diana. She was great...taught us a ton about rock climbing! She was wonderful with my children (three under 9). Would highly recommend them!! We are already planning our next visit. Thanks for everything! read more

My wife and I try to hit up a national park every year on Memorial Day week. We try to get a few climbs in while we're at it and this trip was no exception. We don't like to bring all our gear (too much uncertainty letting the airlines handle it) and you never know what kind of situation you might get into and don't want to be caught short. So we hired AMG to show us around the climbing in Acadia and we were not disappointed! Setting up the reservation was super easy and we gave the shop an honest assessment of our skill set and what we were looking for. When we showed up we were introduced to our guide, Alex, and he was hands down the best! He verified the info we gave when making the reservation, checked our harnesses for safety, and we shot over to Otter Cliffs for some warm up routes. Alex was awesome, not just as a guide, but also an educator. Thoroughly talking us through what gear he was using to build the anchors and why. (This was great for us as we normally sport climb which has a lot less gear - and also the exact reason we hired a guide). We climbed a few easy warm ups then jumped over to the classic chimney before finishing up on the more difficult "drunken sailor" (such a fun route with a double crux). And that was just the first half of the day - we then drove over to the south face and climbed an awesome multi pitch (3 pitches) to get the best view of the park yet. So, of note, I do well on single pitch, but on multi pitch, my fear of heights kicks into overdrive (ironic right?) well, here again Alex was awesome on keeping me focused on the rock and not the exposure around me. By the end of the 3rd pitch we were exhausted and just so darn happy. Would hire again in a heartbeat! read more