Acadia Otter Cliffs Group Climbing Permit
Otter Cliffs at Acadia National Park is located on the southeast part of Mount Desert Island just off of the Park Loop Road. The granite cliffs rise up above the water providing a spectacular setting for sea cliff climbing along Acadia’s iconic rocky coast. The cliffs are composed of solid, course-grained pink granite allowing crack and face climbing, rappel access, and routes up to 5.12.
Permit & Season Information
Group climbing permits are required from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day. A permit may be printed and/or saved up to 7 days before your permit date. Once your permit has been printed, you cannot make changes.
********* Guidance on Booking a Permit: **********
- Only one permit can be selected at a time. To book additional permits in the same Shopping Cart, you will need to click on Continue Shopping and search back to Otter Cliffs.
- When you are booking your permit on the Order Details page, it states that you are required to print your permit. This is standardized and cannot be changed. You may either keep your permit on a mobile device or print it, but it needs to be available and presented on demand when asked.
- You will receive an email 7 days before permit date informing you your permit is ready to print or save.
- To save to your phone: Log into your account, click on My Reservations, then Print Permit, then Yes. (Not working? - Make sure pop-up blocker is disabled)
Need to Know
- Permits are required for organized climbing groups sharing the same affiliation (business, school, church, club, etc) of 6-12 people, including guides and instructors.
- The maximum group size limit is 12 to protect park resources and the overall climbing experience.
- Climbing groups of 6 or more people sharing the same affiliation (business, school, church, club, etc) at Otter Cliffs on the same day require a permit. This requirement holds true regardless if the group separates into smaller units.
- There is a non-refundable $6.00 reservation fee for every permit. This fee is used to finance the reservation system. Fees cannot be transferred to other dates. No rain checks or credits.
- Permit may be printed up to 7 days before permit date. Once printed, you cannot make changes.
- There is a maximum of 10 permits, per organization, per season.
- Permit holders are required to present a valid permit on demand, either printed or on a mobile device.
- Permit holders are required to sign in and enter their Permit # in the Comments column of the Otter Cliffs logbook.
- Follow Leave No Trace principles. Walk on rock surfaces. Stay out of vegetated areas and off areas closed for restoration. Use the one existing access trail off the Ocean Path.
- Group leaders are expected to contact individual climbers about sharing routes. A reservation does not authorize the exclusive use of any routes.
- Conduct your ground school at another location to save space at the cliff.
- Climbers assume responsibility for personal safety. On some routes, local climbers maintain fixed protection or rappel stations. The park maintains fixed anchors on top that must be used instead of trees to belay several climbs. Evaluate conditions before using and notify the park immediately of safety concerns.
- Climbers should know tides and weather forecasts; climbing at these areas is more difficult and dangerous at high tide or with high surf. Climb within your limits.
- Anyone providing instruction or guiding services must obtain a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA). To learn more, contact the CUA Program Coordinator at (207) 288 8735 or acad_cua_program@nps.gov
- Please reduce the visual impact of your group. Store gear and clothes out of sight whenever possible (without trampling vegetation).
- Please review the Fees & Cancellations tab above before requesting a permit.
Fee Policy
Reservation Fee: There is a non-refundable $6.00 reservation fee for every permit. Fees cannot be transferred to other dates. No rain checks or credits.
Recreation Fee: There is no recreation fee for Group Climbing at Otter Cliffs.
Acadia National Park Entrance Fee: Entrance fees are required to enter any portion of the park. All vehicles must display a park pass at all times. Passes are non-transferable.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy:
- Although the $6.00 reservation fee is non-refundable, cancelling your permit if you are not going to use it allows other climbing groups access to Otter Cliffs. It is not possible to cancel a permit after you have clicked on "Print Permit".
Change Policy:
- Group Size: Changes in group size can be made up to seven days before the permit date.
- Group Name: The group name, but not the permit holder, may be changed up to seven days before the permit date. Permit holder name cannot be changed at any time.
- Permit Date: Once a permit reservation is made, no changes may be made to the permit date. To acquire a new date, you must cancel the permit and purchase a new one, if available.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
Acadia National Park (Attn: Fees) PO Box 177 Bar Harbor ME 04609
Phone Number
207-288-8781
