Enter the 2008 National Recreation Trails photo contest!

See 190 pictures entered in the 2007 NRT Photo Contest

See the winners and entries in the 2007 NRT Photo Contest: Gallery 1 - Gallery 2 - Gallery 3 - Gallery 4 - Gallery 5 - Gallery 6 - Gallery 7 - Gallery 8 - Gallery 9 - Gallery 10

New River National Recreation Trail (photo by R. Kevin Combs)

American Trails is sponsoring the 2008 contest for photographs of National Recreation Trails across the country. Our annual contest provides awards in several categories and shows off entries (and previous winners) on the NRT website. The goal is to highlight the diversity of the NRTs and to make more Americans familiar with these great trails. The deadline for entries is December 15, 2008.

We're looking for good photos of trail users as well as special facilities, art on the trails, management issues, construction, and volunteers. We also want to see entries that cover the many types and uses of National Recreation Trails throughout America.

Photos of any designated National Recreation Trail are eligible

Check the on line searchable database for a list of NRTs in your state and provide more information on individual trails. If you're not sure if a trail is an NRT, or if you have questions about the contest, call American Trails at (530) 547-2060 or NRT@AmericanTrails.org. Entries will be displayed on the NRT website.

AWARD CATEGORIES: We will give awards in the following categories, which are grouped under the three general areas of Trail Use, Trail Management, and Trail Features. Check out recent winners to get some ideas. If you'd like to help us pick the winners, please send us your favorites to NRT@AmericanTrails.org.

On Deer Mountain National Recreation Trail, Ketchikan, Alaska (photo by Buck Willoughby)

TRAIL USE

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

How to enter the 2008 NRT photography contest

• DEADLINE: December 15, 2008
• DIGITAL: You may submit digital photos as JPEG or TIFF files. Digital images may be emailed if attachments are under 10 megabytes. Otherwise please mail a CD formatted for all computers (no DVD or CD-RW) alongwith your entry form.
• FILM: Sorry, we can't accept prints or negatives, but you can have a local photo shop scan them to make digital photos.
• Identify each photo with a number, file name, or other clear and concise identifier.
• Separate entry forms are required for each different trail if you are entering photos of more than one NRT.
• Attach a list of your entries with description or caption, location, and photographer's name with contact information for each photo. You may include maps, brochures, news articles, or other information.
• Make sure your photos are on designated National Recreation Trails
• Returns: We can return disks will be returned if postage and a mailing label are enclosed.
• Send your entries by email to NRT@AmericanTrails.org or by postal mail to American Trails, P. O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797.
• Include the following information along with your photos, either electronically or by mail:
  1. Name of the NRT where photo(s) taken
  2. State and general location of trail
  3. Your name
  4. Photographer's name, if different
  5. Organization
  6. Address
  7. Phone
  8. Fax
  9. Email
  10. Website address

View the winning entries in the 2007 NRT Photo Contest

See 2006 entries: Gallery 1 - Gallery 2 - Gallery 3 - Gallery 4 - Gallery 5 - Gallery 6 - Gallery 7 - Gallery 8 - Gallery 9 - Gallery 10 - Gallery 11 - Gallery 12 - Gallery 13

View the winners and 180 entries in the 2004-05 and 2003-04 NRT Photo Contest

If you're not sure if a trail is an NRT, or if you have questions about the contest, please contact us. Presented by American Trails, P. O. Box 491797, Redding, CA 96049-1797 -- phone (530) 547-2060 -- fax (530) 547-2035 -- NRT@AmericanTrails.org

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The Bureau of Land Management is a supporter and partner in the National Trails Training Partnership: working to make training more available. The BLM Trail Management Process course is a comprehensive model for trails education.