11 Phenomenal Images From the National Park Foundation’s Annual Photo Contest

Each year, the National Park Foundation’s Share the Experience photo contest recognizes some of the best photography taken inside U.S. National Parks and federal lands, awarding up to $10,000 to amateur photographers and wilderness aficionados. Between late April and December 2016, photographers submitted more than 16,500 images to the contest.

The grand prize-winning image, taken by Craig McIntyre of Rockport, Texas, captures a green tree frog in its marsh habitat in the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Gulf Coast of Texas. The photo will appear on the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for the year.

Below are 10 more prize-winning images from the Share the Experience contest, including general contest winners and honorable mentions in six subcategories (Adventure and Outdoor Recreation; Historical and Cultural; Scenic, Seasons, and Landscapes; Family, Friends, and Fun; Wildlife; and Night Skies).

SECOND PLACE

Superior National Forest, Minnesota. Image Credit: Gary Hamer

THIRD PLACE

Zion National Park, Utah. Image Credit: Christopher Regala

WINNER, SCENIC CATEGORY

Fantasy Canyon, Utah. Image Credit: John Donofrio

WINNER, WILDLIFE CATEGORY

Yellowstone National Park. Image Credit: Matthew Sorum

WINNER, NIGHT SKIES CATEGORY

Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Image Credit: Matthew Hanna

WINNER, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CATEGORY

Hoover Dam, Nevada. Image Credit: Michael McCook

WINNER, ADVENTURE CATEGORY

White Ridge Trail System, New Mexico. Image Credit: Raymond Lee

WINNER, EVERY KID IN THE PARK CATEGORY

Oologah Lake, Oklahoma. Image Credit: Joshua Slezak

FAN FAVORITE

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio. Image Credit: Rob Blair

FAN FAVORITE

National Mall and Memorial, Washington, D.C. Image Credit: Jack Hanton

All images courtesy the National Park Foundation’s 2016 Share the Experience Photo Contest.