Hundreds of millions of people ventured to America’s national parks and recreation areas last year, and it’s fair to say that most of them took photos of the natural beauty they encountered on their visits.
Nearly 9,000 such images made their way to the judges for the National Park Foundation’s 19th annual Share the Experience photo competition, which “invites amateur photographers to share photos of their favorite views, moments, memories, and adventures from national parks and public lands across the United States.”
And just ahead of the July Fourth holiday, the winning shots for the 2025 contest were revealed. First place — and $10,000 — went to Jonatas Neiva, who captured the Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower during a glowing sunrise at Medicine Bow National Forest in southcentral Wyoming.
Surrounded by a reservoir and mountains, Spruce Mountain Fire Lookout Tower is illuminated by an early sunrise in Medicine Bow National Forest.
“America’s public lands and waters mean the world to me. As a naturalized U.S. citizen, they are among the things that make me most proud to call this country home. For me, their meaning goes beyond the incredible diversity of landscapes and wildlife,” Neiva said in a statement. “Every time I share a photo, my hope is that it sparks the same sense of awe in someone else, and that awe turns into appreciation, and appreciation turns into stewardship.”
Nina Mayer Ritchie was awarded second place for a shot of her son walking through golden-lit woods, the ground blanketed in leaves. She took the photo in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, which encompasses more than 3,000 miles of trails and routes in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
A child wanders through the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests on a bright, autumnal day.
“As my oldest son, who was 9 years old at the time, started to walk ahead of us on the trail, I was so struck by the view. I quickly snapped this photo, which I’m so grateful for, as I feel like it truly captures his essence,” the physician and mother of two shared. “He has the most incredible mind: The way he sees and interacts with the world — with such nuance and wonder — takes my breath away.”
Third place went to Danielle Craig’s spectacular (and postcard-worthy) snapshot of a bison roaming a flowering meadow at Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming.
A bison roams the meadows of Grand Teton National Park under the Teton Range
“This photo was taken during a 42-day cross-country road trip my fiancé and I went on after graduating college. We had spent weeks camping, hiking, and exploring national parks, and by the time we reached the Tetons, it felt like the perfect grand finale to our adventure,” said Craig. “What makes this photo so special to me is that it represents a lifelong dream finally becoming reality and reminds me how rewarding it can be to step outside your comfort zone and explore the unknown.”
Scroll to see the five category winners, and bookmark the Share the Experience website to learn how to enter the 2026 contest, which opens Sept. 1.
History & Heritage — Jean Zuo, Yosemite National Park
The Yosemite Chapel glows against a still, snowy night in Yosemite National Park.
Outdoors For All — Ryan Grassley, Arches National Park
Sam, who has cerebral palsy, celebrates reaching the top of Delicate Arch with his family in Arches National Park.
Scenery & Seasons — Matthew Grahovac, Mount Rainier National Park
Rolling hills and mountains blanketed in lush greenery stretch across Mount Rainier National Park.
Wildlife — Jamie Wright, Kenai Fjords National Park
Two sea otters raft together in the calm waters of Kenai Fjords National Park.
Vacation Vibes — Phil Reedy, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
A visitor casts a fishing line into a stream in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
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