Every year, we are humbled by the joy and beauty you share with us from National Forests and Grasslands across the country. We received over 6,000 submissions to our annual National Forest Week™ Photo Contest this year, and once again, our judges had their work cut out for them!
A big thank you to our friends at Southwest Airlines, RVshare, Big Agnes, Helinox, and Peak Design for contributing so many incredible prizes, as well as to everyone who participated. In the coming months we look forward to sharing many of the breathtaking photos you submitted across our social media channels.
Without further ado… here are our 2025 winners!
Grand Prize
Eldorado National Forest
“A top-down aerial photo of Big Run Bog, a National Natural Landmark in the Monongahela National Forest.”
Photo by Frank Gebhard
Siuslaw National Forest
“Delicate mushrooms fan out along a moss-covered log deep within the lush temperate rainforest of Oregon’s Siuslaw National Forest. This close-up scene captures the quiet beauty and biodiversity of the coastal forest floor, where even the smallest life forms contribute to the rich ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest.”
Photo by Cheyenne Leavitt
Inyo National Forest
“The Milky Way spans over some of the oldest trees on earth at the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest. This tree has been watching the stars move across the sky for nearly four thousand years.”
Photo by Kelly Teich
Who We’re With
Pisgah National Forest
“This was our favorite spot, just me, my dog Chica, and the mountains. She’s gone now, but this moment lives on: the warmth of the sun, the stillness of the trees, and her ears perked toward the wind. It wasn’t just a view. It was peace. It was love. It was where we found God.”
Photo by Jay Michaud
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
“A friend of mine fly fishes at the reflective Hollowtop Lake during golden hour.”
Photo by Logan Holstien
Inyo National Forest
“Father and son sharing a moment in Inyo National Forest.”
Photo by Toccara Best
What Makes Us Come Alive
Pike-San Isabel National Forest
“This adorable fawn peeks at me from behind a tree. Seeing simple things like this just brings me joy. We are so fortunate to live in an area with so much wildlife, and the National Forests provide really important habitat for wildlife.”
Photo by Joanie Christian
Daniel Boone National Forest
“Yury sending the 430 meter highline in Daniel Boone National Forest.”
Photo by Will Fenwick
Thank you to our 2025 Judges!
Baratunde Thurston is a storyteller exploring interdependence across our relationships with each other, nature, and technology. He is an Emmy-nominated host, a writer, public speaker, and proud Earthling. His newest project is Life With Machines, a YouTube podcast exploring the human side of the A.I. revolution. Baratunde is also host and executive producer of the PBS series America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston, creator and host of the How To Citizen podcast, and a founding partner and writer at Puck. His comedic memoir, How To Be Black, is a New York Times best-seller. Keep up with Baratunde at @baratunde or baratunde.com.
Dani Reyes-Acosta, known for her work in outdoor filmmaking and cultural storytelling, has inspired audiences through her award-winning narratives of reciprocity and belonging. Best known for DISPATCHES (2024), WELL WORN LIFE (f2022), and the OUTLIER series (2025, 2022), Reyes-Acosta brings to life stories that challenge convention and elevate underrepresented voices. Honored with the Adán Medrano Film Award in 2024, “Most Inspiring Film” at No Man’s Land Film Festival in 2025, and recognized by Protect Our Winters and The North Face for her leadership in climate and community advocacy, Reyes-Acosta crafts stories that shift us beyond a human-centered world—calling us back to the wild, interwoven roots of who we are. Follow her journey at @NotLostJustDiscovering or DaniReyesAcosta.com.
Born and raised in western Montana, Eric Matt grew up with a fascination with the outdoors. From high school hikes to college adventures in the mountains, he always felt his best away from the towns and cities. Photography quickly became the perfect way to turn that passion into a career, allowing him to chase stories and share them through his lens. These days, he relies on his Bronco to carry him – and his gear – wherever the story leads. Follow Eric at @ericmattt.
Cover photo by Scott Anderson
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