Atlantic Climbing School Inc

From the start of making reservations and sending an email to them to actually climbing, our experience was awesome! I had climbed with this school many years ago and had a great experience, but I knew there were new climbing schools in the area, so I did my research and found out that Atlantic is still the best and most accredited school on the island. We were supposed to climb twice on our trip but ended up having to cancel one of our trips because it was so rainy (and honestly we were super sore from overdoing it hiking) which Eli (the owner) was really great about.
We climbed the following day instead and it was an amazing and unforgettable adventure. Climbing Otter Cliffs was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done but it was also super rewarding once I had tackled my fears with the help of our amazing guide, Seth! What a patient and knowledgeable guy! The climb was terrifying to me (60 feet above the ocean on a rocky cliff) but I felt like I was in very safe hands with Seth and he helped put me at ease. He talked you through the climb and told you what to expect before you got started. He was great at talking me through some of the tricky hand and foot holds and didn’t flinch at my frequent use of profanity (sorry, mom!). He accommodated my more fearless friends by allowing them to climb harder portions of the rock which was cool, too and allowed it to be an experience that we could all enjoy.
I will definitely be climbing with Atlantic next summer on my next visit and recommend that you check them out, especially when considering going with another school. You get what you pay for and when you’re doing a risky adventure, it’s best to be in the safest, most experienced hands possible.

Great experience, Grant guided us with extreme patience and assurance. We felt safe yet pushed beyond what we anticipated we could accomplish. Highly recommended beginners to experienced

My girlfriend and I had a blast doing this. As new comers to rock climbing our guide Dane was awesome in showing us the basics while making sure we were safe and having a good time. We did the 4hr Otter Cliff option. The views were beautiful!

You will not regret taking a day out of your vacation to Acadia to learn to rock climb with Atlantic Climbing School!
I had no climbing experience (only hiking and rock scrambling) going into this. The staff was extremely knowledgeable and professional and just all-​around fun. They started us at an easier climb to boost our confidence and the climbs advanced from there. It is a TOTAL body workout, more than I expected, but oh-​so-​fun!
After climbing with them, I wanted to start climbing all the time because they made the experience so enjoyable and safe!

Start to finish, this was a great experience! I’d never climbed before, and this group made it a really fun experience. The desk staff were friendly and enthusiastic, the paperwork was quick and easy. Matt, the guide, was really patient and made sure I felt comfortable the whole climb. The climb was a lot of fun, and rappelling back down was a blast! I’d absolutely return for another lesson here, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in trying it.

Took my 8 year old for a ½ day climb on the south Bubble. Guide Ryan is a natural teacher– he spent time teaching my daughter about all the gear and then we got on with it. The experience was professional, safe, physical and extremely rewarding. There are a lot outdoor activities in Acadia, but this one will be the highlight of your trip.

Ryan took my daughter and I out to Otter Cliffs for a sunset climb. It was amazing!!! My 10 year old said it was the time of her life. And I feel it was very affordable.

These guys were great! Pricing may seem high but it is well worth it! You get an amazing personal experience from the guides and leave feeling accomplished! A must do if you visit Bar Harbor.

This was the best decision we made while in Bar Harbor. This school is so professional and friendly. The climbing was breathtaking, challenging, and exciting. Matt was our climbing guide… he was so knowledgeable and truly made the experience. I felt incredibly safe and trusted him the entire time. My boyfriend and I went together and had just started climbing indoors a few weeks ago. Although I think the basic knowledge helped in some aspects, you could definitely do it as a beginner. There are climbs for all skill levels. If you are looking for an activity to get your heart pumping with stunning views please consider and go with Atlantic Climbing School — you won’t regret it!

If you’re considering whether to book these guys for a climb on your trip to Acadia, quit thinking about it. Just book it. It will be a (or THE) highlight of your trip.
I did a half-​day climb with Eli on the Otter Cliffs. I’d never been climbing outside – I’ve been climbing about a year and a half at a gym. Eli made the transition SUPER easy for me, and made me feel really safe. He pointed out things I’d find challenging, always made suggestions about route options, made sure I concentrated on techniques that would help me climb better/​longer, explained all about the pitches and equipment, and generally made the entire experience so much fun that I wanted to do it again the next day.
Climbing and rappelling the Otter Cliffs after being in a gym is just mind-​blowing. There are so many great routes for all abilities, and the chimney is a BLAST! Waves crash below, the rock is gorgeous, and the views are amazing.
DO IT! Life is too short to miss this!

My friends and I did a half day climb with Eli and his staff and they were wonderful. I have rarely met a more knowledgeable, friendly, or supportive group of individuals. While climbing in the gorgeous Acadia National Park, the instructors were able to tell me all of the hand and footholds on the wall as I was climbing, even though they were dozens of feet above me. Amazing! And Eli did a wonderful job of making sure everyone felt safe and comfortable.

We did a half day with Atlantic Climbing School and had an amazing time. Eli and Ryan were our guides, both were absolutely fantastic. Our group of four was all beginners but Eli and Ryan were incredibly patient and reassuring. The otter cliffs are breathtaking. I highly recommend this activity if you’re spending a day or two in Bar Harbor.

My most favorite part of enjoying the park. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend! Some of the most amazing views during the trip were from the climbs. A wonderful way to experience the park. The guide was excellent, well experience. I felt safe the entire time. I had some indoor climbing experience, very minimal. The guide was there to talk me through tough spots during the climbs. This is for any climbing level. There were even families with small children doing climbs.

I went climbing with Atlantic 3 times, once with Grant in Acadia and twice with Alan in Camden. I had a great time, every time. Grant gave me a great introduction, we climbed at Otter Cliffs and the South Bubble. Alan took those skills I learned and really challenged them down in Camden at Maiden Cliffs. They were both super friendly and knowledgable, and were sure to go at whatever pace you like. I highly recommend this company to anyone looking to try out climbing or improve their skill set!

I did two trips with them — a half-​day experience course with my 56-​year old parents who had never climbed before, and a full-​day anchor building class. I’d expected them to just belay for my parents as they tried climbs, but they also taught them the knots, how to belay, and how to rappel. The routes they selected were appropriate for beginners and my parents had a great time, although neither is likely to take up climbing. Everyone got in 3 – 4 climbs, myself included. During the anchor class I got the opportunity to do a few multi-​pitch climbs in addition to one-​on-​one instruction on whatever I wanted. My guide even brought up a camera, took pictures as I seconded and emailed them to me. They do an excellent job tailoring the trip to the individual — let them know your comfort level and experience and they’ll take care of you. Highly recommended.

My son and I went climbing at Otter Cliffs and had a fantastic time. We are fairly experienced at indoor climbing but new to climbing outdoors. Our guide was Grant and he did a great job making us feel comfortable, safe, and was always very upbeat and encouraging. Even the misty rain and fog couldn’t dampen our spirits and perhaps even added to the exotic feel of the climbs. We’ll be back next year to try some even bigger and more ambitious climbs, and definitely plan to have the Atlantic Climbing School guide us. Highly recommended.

This was one of the best experiences of our trip! I had a GREAT time in BH/​Acadia and would love to go back. If I do go back, this place is definitely something I would try to do.
Our guide Grant did a great job of instructing us, keeping us safe, explaining things, and finding good climbs for us!
He was very professional and personable. He definitely seemed to know his stuff and was able to answer all of our questions. He was also great at encouraging you to keep going/​find hand holds, etc! He definitely made us feel a lot more hardcore than we probably were!
I would highly recommend this company to any friends/​family who visit the island in the future!

Experienced guides and a wide variety of climbing options. We had a spectacular time, great pictures, and a great value.

I am terrified of heights and this was a bucket list type of event. Peter was a great guide but I will never ever rock climb again.