The Winners

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  Zion National Park, Utah
  "We trekked our way under an overcast sky on a chilly day, through the waist deep waters of the narrows, holding our photo equipment and valuables over our heads and hoping not to slip or step into a particularly deep ditch below the water. When we finally made it across, we found a particularly shallow side canyon with washed walls. A perfect place to rest and dry off."

  Photo by espiler

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  Grand Prismatic, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
  "On our last day in Yellowstone National Park, we finally had the chance to see Grand Prismatic, the one site my 6-year-old had anticipated most. I was happy to capture this carefree moment as she "glided" along the boardwalk ahead of me around the hot spring."

  Photo by 1travelbug

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  Grinnell Point, Glacier National Park, Montana
  "This is the view that greeted me at sunrise when I looked out the window of our room at Many Glacier Hotel on Swiftcurrent Lake in Glacier National Park."

  Photo by enzian

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  Katmai National Park, Alaska
  "On a damp August morning, sitting quietly in the brush of Katmai National Park in Alaska's extreme wilderness, we observed the grizzly bears for hours as they were looking to fatten up on salmon before the long, cold winter season. Some of the bears were experts, catching a fish every other dive or so. Some were young and just learning how to hunt, and we would watch as they struggled for what seemed like hours before they came up with a fish in their mouth, rather than the usual confused look on their dripping wet face. This one salmon in particular caught the attention of three bears, and based on the look on his face, he foolishly expected to be one of the lucky ones to continue on his way up to the northern Pacific."

  Photo by BostonGal

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  Joshua Tree National Park, California
  "The morning light was perfect when we came across this magical field of flowers."

  Photo by DanielMac

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  Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California
  "This picture was taken just after sunrise at Badwater Basin. The size of this basin is overwhelming and deceptive. It is actually several miles to the mountains in the background. There were paths leading out into the basin. The salt crystals are very sharp and care must be taken if you walk off the main path."

  Photo by vic_kesse

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  Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
  "My then-boyfriend (now husband) and I traveled to Bryce Canyon NP only to find it enveloped in fog. I'd been to Bryce Canyon before, but had never seen it this way. It's already an unusual place, but the fog really added to the drama of the park. While hiking we felt like we were walking on the moon."

  Photo by lkboice

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  Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
  "On a cold and windy evening, walking along Yellowstone Lake, I came across this beautiful shot - a captivating log engulfed by the flowing water."

  Photo by Brian_Mosoff

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  Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
  "Standing at the Upper Terraces in Mammoth Hot Springs while a thunderstorm is rolling towards us. An eerily, unearthly sight."

  Photo by hawaiianblue

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  Badlands National Park, South Dakota
  "I recently visited Badlands National Park as part of a 2-week road trip across the country visiting national parks. As I was driving by this scene, the bold colors of the mounds and sky, as well as the interesting cloud formations, really struck me. I had planned to camp two nights in the park, but a wind advisory was in effect and the weather was completely unpredictable, so I continued on the road. I was fortunate, though, because the clouds almost recreated the Badlands rock formations in the sky and the weather allowed me to fully experience the dramatic landscape of the Badlands."

  Photo by acmace