There are not many places around the globe where climbers can practice their vertical gymnastics at the water’s edge. The pink granite cliffs of Otter Cliffs, in Acadia National Park, have got to be among the most user-friendly. Local guide Jeff Butterfield has been leading visitors to the edge (and over it, actually) of this sixty-foot-tall outcropping for twenty-four years. He’ll set a toprope that’s right for your physical and emotional level. Classic routes like Rock Lobster (rated 5.9+, or challenging) ascend a giant detached pillar, while others like Riptide (rated 5.11+, very difficult) test even the toughest rock jocks, with tiny holds and overhanging fingercracks. Atlantic Climbing School, 67 Main St., Bar Harbor, 207-288-2521, www.acadiaclimbing.com