CAMDEN CLIMBING
FESTIVAL
The Camden Climbing Festival (CCF 2026) returns to celebrate the climbing lifestyle on the coast of Maine, May 23-25. This will be our 4th annual event attracting eager climbers, speakers and local businesses to Camden Hills State Park, in Maine. The CCF ethos focuses on three pillars: Stewardship, Community and Education. We provide trail maintenance with the support of Camden Hills State Park and Camden Hills locals, we provide high value clinics for experienced climbers and new climbers, we cater the entire weekend serving local food and beverage, we camp near the ocean, we share climbing stories, and we watch inspiring videos and speakers share their stories about climbing in Maine and beyond.
Participant feedback— “We can’t wait to come back”!
FESTIVAL DETAILS
The Camden Climbing Festival is a 2.5 day weekend retreat for anyone who wishes to experience climbing education, climbing stewardship and the Camden climbing community. All are welcome: climbers with decades of experience, new climbers, gym climbers, children and family. Anyone who simply wants to kick off the 2026 rock climbing season with a wicked good Maine time is welcome. So tell your climbing partners, tell someone who has never climbed and ready to learn, and tell anyone who loves to be outside that the Camden Climbing Festival is back! Let’s bring more lovely humans to the festival May 23-25th, 2026.
All CCF festivities including: camping, climbing and clinics will be located in the Camden Hills State Park. Take a moment to read all of the information provided below, then join dozens of like-minded and like-hearted individuals, seasoned climbers and novices, for a celebration of humans helping other humans thrive in nature! Think of this weekend climbing festival as a retreat. Once you arrive we got you covered: great food, water, camping, community, climbing, multi-media, merch, games, prizes, this list goes on.
To participate, CCF asks for a sliding scale donation of $300-$500 for this full weekend experience. Your donation has high value and covers many festival costs seen below. Any amount is very much appreciated as proceeds covers festival overhead, and the remaining goes to two excellent causes: 1) continued stewardship of Camden Climbing maintenance and bolt replacement, and 2) sponsoring people with limited means to climb, especially youth who climb for FREE through Northern Vertical Climbing Guides.
Here is what your donation earns you:
Camden Hills State Park multi-day admission and group camping with fellow CCF participants
All nourishing dinners and breakfasts (excellent, locally supported food) from Saturday evening to Monday morning (snacks are your responsibility)
Sunday and Monday clinics appropriate to your climbing experience (see clinics page)
Saturday evening’s Kickoff Social and climbing film on the big screen
Sunday evening’s social with Keynote Speakers Peter Lataille and Ryan Howes
Sunday evening music and dance
CCF swag, games, trivia, raffle
A well lit hearth in our common area
CCF expects all participants to bring personal camping equipment and cutlery, plate, bowl and a cup for coffee and evening beverages! Thank you in advance for helping us cut back on unnecessary waste :)
2026 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 23rd, 2026
12:00 - 5:00 PM: Clinic “Cliff and Trail Maintenance” with the Camden Hills State Park Trails Supervisor, Erik Brooks
4:00 PM Registration begins at Picnic Shelter
6:00 - 7:30 PM: Dinner at the Picnic Shelter
7:00 - 9:00 PM ish: Kickoff Social with CCF Staff and climbing films at the Picnic Shelter (BYOBeverage)
10:00 PM - 7:00 AM: Quiet hours
Sunday, May 24th, 2026
6:00 - 7:00 AM: Breakfast at the Picnic Shelter
7:00 - 8:00 AM: Orientation for clinics, meet your instructors at the Picnic Shelter
8:30 AM - 4:30 PM: Clinics for all (meeting at Barrett’s Cove Beach on Lake Megunticook)
6:00 - 7:30 PM: Dinner at the Picnic Shelter
7:00 - 10:00 PM: Keynote Speakers Peter Lataille and Ryan Howes, followed by music and dance at the Picnic Shelter (BYOBeverage)
10:00 PM - 7:00 AM: Quiet hours
Monday, May 25th, 2026 (Memorial Day)
*deconstruct campsite prior to departing for the days climbing adventure
6:00 - 7:30 AM: Breakfast
7:30 - 8:00 AM: A message from CCF Founder, Ryan Howes and Staff
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: More Amazing Clinics
THE VENUE - CAMDEN HILLS STATE PARK
First step upon arrival is to check in with Camden Hills State Park Staff at the Entrance Booth for vehicle and camping tags. Make sure to announce you are attending the Camden Climbing Festival, Bub! Then, continue taking the first right to CCF Group Camping sites 3, 4 and 5. These sites are first come first serve and holds up to 10 guests per site.
Bring whatever creature comforts you need for the weekend and help us cut back on waste by bringing personal cutlery, plate, bowl and a cup for coffee and evening beverages!
Depending on what time you arrive on Saturday, join the CCF crew for our first clinic: “Trail and Climbing Maintenance” from 12-5:00 PM. Festival registration opens at 4:00 PM at the Picnic Shelter, followed by Dinnah and the CCF Kickoff Social at 6:00 PM. Look on the map provided for an icon that shows a small picnic table inside a shelter. You cannot miss it, Bub! We cannot wait to see you!
VOLUNTEER TRAIL WORK evolves into Cliff and Trail Maintenance…
CCF and Camden Hills State Park’s Trail Supervisor, Erik Brooks have combined energies to clean up Park trails each festival. This five hour volunteer initiative benefits all park users in addition to protecting the natural resource. Traditionally, Maine’s state parks resources are spread thin and trail work is supported by local volunteer and friend’s groups. Camden Hills State Park has graciously received CCF support over the past three festivals. Last year we built a durable trail at Guide’s Wall. Our hardworking volunteers, led by superhuman runner and climber Erik, returned just in time for our Kick Off Dinnah looking like they just moved mountains!
During a planning session for CCF 2025, festival founder Ryan Howes, who’s mission to create community and provide climbing education to all, asked CCF staff “How could we create more learning from this experience?” and this sparked the idea to turn volunteer trail work into CCF’s first ever Cliff and Trail Maintenance Clinic. Now, everyone can participate and learn how to take care of the cliffs and trails they venture to, no matter where they are located. This is the only clinic that is not capped so stewardship prevails!
Let’s double that number this May. Thank you in advance for showing up early to work and learn with us! Learn more about this clinic on our clinics page. See you there!
KICKOFF SOCIAL
The Camden Climbing Festival kicks off by welcoming all into the spirit of Camden climbing, making CCF Team introductions and festival key players like our amazing sponsors: Zoot Coffee of Camden, Alpenglow Adventure Sports of Bangor, Northern Vertical Climbing Guides of Camden, our generous and delicious caterers .
CCF founder, Ryan Howes will provide an orientation to the weekend festival, and facilitate a campfire discussion on how climber’s manage risk, because we are all in this together. CCF is also excited to announce several amazing auction and raffle prizes from our sponsors and affiliates, followed by a short climbing documentary and guest speakers.
There will be a $30 entrance fee for non-festival attendees participating in evening festivities. Many thanks in advance!
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
“Two Screws Loose”
With Climbers: Peter Lataille & Ryan Howes
This multimedia presentation will be the first time Peter and Ryan share the story about their first ascent of Two Screws Loose, NEI 5, 650’. Located in Baxter State Park’s Northwest Basin, on the Katahdin Massif, Two Screws Loose is the biggest, and most remote, backcountry ice climb on the east coast.
Their story includes the historical first ascent of “El Cap” in the 1940s, an impressive 700’ wall climbed by Arnold Wexler. Peter and Ryan weave together their climbing partnership on Katahdin’s South Basin and first ascent of an unrepeated mixed climb in Katahdin’s Witherle Ravine they call Red Skye, NEI 5, M5, 500’. As their story builds, so does their first but failed attempt at Two Screws Loose in 2009.
This story is truly about human relationships: mentorship, friendship and the climbing partners who come and go, but never forgotten - because dreams come true with the support of good people.
Peter and Ryan look forward to telling their tall tale fire side, during the 4th Annual Camden Climbing Festival, May 23-25, 2026!
Don’t miss it!!
