American Trails sponsors an annual contest for photographs of National Recreation Trails across the country. 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.

In celebration of these great trails we will be presenting awards in several categories to highlight the diversity of NRTs, from backcountry trails to urban greenways.

We will give awards in the following categories, which are grouped under the three general areas of Trail Use, Trail Management, and Trail Features.

TRAIL USE

Accessibility, Hiking and Walking, Equestrian, Paddling and Water Trails, Bicycling, Off-Highway Vehicle riding, Snowmobiling, Skiing,  Snow shoeing, 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

Photos must be on designated National Recreation Trails (see website). Submit digital photos as JPEG or TIFF files. Rules and entry procedures are very simple– see website.

Contest Prize & TERMS