Welcome to Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School

Maine's Only Full Service Mountain Guiding School.

Rock Climb in Acadia National Park

Call 207-288-8186 to Make Your Reservation!

AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Courses and Exams

Learn From IFMGA Guide Jon Tierney, the Primary Founder and Director of the Original AMGA Climbing Instructor Program

Wilderness Medical Trainings in New England and Beyond

Wilderness First Responder, WEMT, Wilderness Advanced Life Support, Wilderness First Aid, and Wilderness Advanced First Aid

Katahdin Winter Ascent

Thanks for an awesome winter!

Overview

Since 1993 AMGCS has been providing climbing instruction and guiding to discerning clients from around the world. Our diversity of clients and programs speaks to the quality and value provided by our premium service. Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School is Maine’s only full service climbing school. We are committed to sharing our passion for the mountains with you throughout the seasons from the shores of coastal Maine to the peaks of the world’s greatest ranges.

What We Do

Join us in Acadia National Park and beyond for an unforgettable experience. Any age and any experience can climb. Half day, full day, and evening sessions available. 

Looking to level up your personal climbing ability? This year we are hosting a series of public skills clinics ranging from intro gym to crag style, and shorter, to advanced,    – Build new technical skills, learn on real rock in Acadia or New Hampshire

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School offers guided ice climbing across the Northeast from frozen sea spray to technical routes up Katahdin and Mount Washington. Half days available in Acadia National Park, Full days required for other locations.

It matters who teaches your course! All of our wilderness medicine courses are instructed by school owner Jon Tierney, or one of our selected, highly experienced medical professionals (experienced flight nurses, ER Doctors). Jon is one of the nation’s most experienced wilderness medicine instructors with over 1000 teaching days and tons of real-life mountain rescue experience. He is a flight paramedic and an internationally licensed IFMGA mountain guide. Visit Jon’s bio for more info. If you can’t take one of our courses there are several other highly experienced WMAI instructors to choose from. Among the many wilderness medicine providers, we believe that WMAI has the highest standards for both becoming and maintaining instructor status and WMAI is the company we feel most comfortable recommending to clients.

Upcoming Wilderness Medicine Course Schedule

Date(s)CourseLocationPrice
Jan 15 – 19WMAI Wilderness First Responder
Course Information
Hosted by Acadia Mountain Guides
Alpenglow Adventure Sports
Bangor, ME
Instructor: Jon Tierney
$775.00
Jun 11 – 15WMAI Wilderness First Responder
Course Information
Hosted by Acadia Mountain Guides
Mount Desert Island, ME
Instructor: Jon Tierney
$775.00
Jun 13 – 15WMAI Wilderness First Responder Recertification
Course Information
Hosted by Acadia Mountain Guides
Mount Desert Island, ME
Instructor: Jon Tierney
$400.00
Jun 26 – 30Wilderness First Responder
Hosted by
Katahdin Higher Education Center
East Millinocket, ME
Instructor:
Jon Tierney / Stephen Leavins
Contact Host 
Jul 24 – 27

WMAI Wilderness Advanced Life Support™
Course Information
Hosted By Acadia Mountain Guides

Cornish, NH
Instructors:
Jon Tierney
Paul Marcolini
Evie Marcolini

MD/DO: $1400
PA/NP: $1200
Resident: $900
RN/Medic/AEMT: $800

Nov 6 – 9

WMAI Wilderness Advanced Life Support™
Course Information
Hosted By Acadia Mountain Guides

Alpenglow Adventure Sports
Bangor, ME
Instructors:
Jon Tierney
Paul Marcolini
Evie Marcolini
MD/DO: $1400
PA/NP: $1200
Resident: $900
RN/Medic/AEMT: $800

Avalanche Education

Yes, avalanches do happen in New England and each year a number of backcountry enthusiasts are injured or killed in New England from avalanches. Take your mountain knowledge to a level that helps you and your group make informed decisions in the backcountry regardless of where you travel. Take an AIARE avalanche course through Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School!

We have AIARE courses running all winter! 

Thank you for an amazing 2025-2026 Winter season to all those who took a course. If you had any trouble receiving your certification document feel free to call us at (207) 288 8186 we will be happy to help!

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School is an American Mountain Guides Association and Professional Climbing Instructor Association accredited business. Owner Jon Tierney maintains an AMGA/IMFGA mountain guide certification, the highest level of guide certification in the US and internationally. Come climb with one of the most qualified guide services in the Northeast!

Learn More About PCIA Certification
Learn More About AMGA Certification