Photo Contest

Submit your photos that highlight the diversity of the NRTs and to make more Americans familiar with these great trails.

 

American Trails sponsors the annual contest for photographs of designated National Recreation Trails across the country. Our annual contest provides awards in several categories and shows off entries (and previous winners) on the NRT website. Deadline is December 15 of each year.

View the winning photos for 2023

Also see: Award Categories | How to Enter | Past Entries

The goal is to highlight the diversity of the NRTs and to make more Americans familiar with these great trails. We're looking for good photos of trail users as well as special facilities, art on the trails, management issues, construction, and volunteers. We also want to see entries that cover the many types and uses of National Recreation Trails throughout America.

Deadline for entries is December 15 each year. Winning photos will be announced in February and a link will be posted on this webpage. Details on how to enter can be found farther down the page.

See all entries from 2023

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Award Categories

We will give awards in the following categories. Photos will be considered for all relevant categories.

TRAIL USE

• Accessibility
• Hiking and Walking
• Equestrian
• Paddling and Water Trails
• Bicycling
• Off-Highway Vehicle riding
• Snowmobiling
• Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Dogsledding

TRAIL MANAGEMENT

• Trail Sharing
• Training and Education
• Trail Work
• Youth and Volunteers
• Health and Fitness

TRAIL FEATURES

• Urban Trails and Greenways
• Rail and Canal Trails
• Historic Features
• Scenery and Natural Features
• Arts and Interpretation
• Innovative Facilities
• Environmental Features, Flora, and Fauna

ARTISTIC MERIT

• The Trail as Photographic Inspiration

Winning photos will receive a certificate, as well a Trail Boss mug, stickers, and a Happy Trails coaster.

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How to Enter

Step 1: Make sure your photos qualify

• Eligibility: Only photos of a designated National Recreation Trail are eligible. Make sure your photos were taken on a designated National Recreation Trail.
  
• Photos must be in JPEG or PNG format
• Submit up to TEN photos per trail

Step 2: Record the following details for each of your entries

1. Name of the NRT where photo(s) taken
2. State and general location of the trail
3. Caption or brief description of the subject
4. Your name
5. Photographer's name, if different
6. Organization, if any
7. Mailing address
8. Email

Step 3: Submit your photo nomination(s)

ONE SUBMISSION FORM PER TRAIL. If you have photos to submit for more than one trail, please submit a separate submission form for each trail (10 photos per trail allowed).

If you're not sure if a trail is an NRT, or if you have questions about the contest, please contact us. Presented by American Trails, P. O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797 - phone (530) 605-4395 - [email protected]

Note:

By entering the contest you are giving us permission to use the photos for publicity and promotion of National Recreation Trails. This includes use on the websites of the NRT Program, American Trails, and cooperating agencies and organizations, as well as their non-commercial publications. You retain all other rights to your photos.

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