Washington Trails
Association
Trails for everyone, forever
Washington Trails
AssociationTrails for everyone, forever
Explore the joy and beauty of Washington's trails, as captured by photographers across the state.
It’s that time of the year again, one of our favorite times at WTA, when we have the pleasure of sharing the winners of the 2023 Northwest Exposure Photo Contest! The contest judges love the chance to virtually wander trails all over the state.
Every year, you show us how captivating the landscapes, wildlife and people from Washington are. And this year's bonus category, East of the Cascades, inspired us to visit — or revisit — many beautiful trails.
Northwest Exposure is more than an outdoor photography celebration. The photos are a huge resource that helps WTA’s website, social media, newsletters and more show the beauty of diversity of our state. Your photos inspire others to get out there, to explore and to care for our state's trails.
Thank you so much to everyone who entered the contest. We look forward to seeing your entries for the 2024 Northwest Exposure! All types of cameras and creativity are welcome.
And now, take a look at the winners from the 2023 Northwest Exposure Photo Contest.
The grand prize photo is the judges' top pick, from all of the categories.
Grand prize winner Michael Mixon took his time to capture this beautifully framed moment in the Twin Barns Loop Trail at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. After 2 hours of enjoying a photo walk, Michael was ready to head out when he noticed the light had changed. He went back to this spot and waited until a hiker came into view. A great example of how outdoor photography can help with the practice of patience.
Winding trails and the incredible landscapes where they take you.
In Central Washington, Daniel Tate found this whimsical sunset at Horse Heaven Hills (heavenly, indeed). After being caught in the middle of a freezing rain storm on the ascent, he hit the ridge top as the storm blew out. The combination of weather and lighting enhanced the textures in the trail and gave the clouds a cotton candy look.
Kevin and his family are always planning for their next adventure. He enjoys capturing his 2-year-old daughter's childhood through outdoor activities such as star gazing at the Winchester Mountain Trail. The Rabuck family hope that they can inspire others to advocate for trails and protect the beautiful places Washington has to offer by sharing their photos.
Snowy landscapes usually create a lot of drama (dramatic lighting, of course). And for Mia, snowshoeing up the Ptarmigan Ridge felt epic and intimate when she witnessed how some of the hikers from her group arduously blazed a trail through several feet of fresh snow. This hike helped her gain confidence in traveling across snow and now she has memories for a lifetime.
In camp or on trail, these photos capture the experience of people enjoying the outdoors.
Another benefit of snowy landscapes is the way they make colors pop due to the snow bouncing back the light. Yunyan is so proud she could save this moment where her children are embracing the legend that Mailbox Peak is for many hikers. These young hikers thought that touching the mailbox was the highlight of their hike.
Chasing sunsets can be a special experience for the eye, the soul and our cameras. And getting one while on a trail for your birthday sounds like a remarkable way to honor your life. Patryk decided to celebrate his wife's birthday this way, alongside a couple of friends while hiking the North Cascades. He loved how Corey, his friend, matched the warm tones from the sunset and how the craggy peaks were beautifully lit.
Mount St. Helens is the go-to place for Scott and Deeann any season of the year. Both of them love the unique geology and dynamic terrain it has to offer. Years ago, they did a birthday hike and Scott took this photo of his wife, Deeann, along the Loowit Trail. The couple enjoyed a silly and cute moment by becoming a part of the landscape like the signs, leaning into it.
These photos show the faces of the people you love to hike with.
Dan, the cool dog, was feeling fantastic with his sunglasses while he was carried in the backpack by Connor as they were making it to the summit of Mount Ellinor. You can see the fun duo in their true element, which is the main reason Nachiket enjoys taking pictures of people in an outdoor setting. The group were happy to catch the beautiful sunrise after starting the climb at 3 a.m.
Zian and her trail family share the same passion for outdoor activities and enjoy the hiking/climbing resources the Pacific Northwest has to offer. This community (Seattle Ling-Feng) created a group backpacking event, which they do every year to see the peak of the larches.
There can be times where the elevation gain can take the energy out of us. And one of the best ways to gain back that energy and strength is to have a silly moment with your loved ones. Erika wanted to brighten the mood of her fellow hiking friends by finding some fallen lichen to use as a mustache. She used her famous “selfie arm” to take the picture and happy vibes increased. It was an incredible experience for all of them.
Woods, wildflowers and all things furry, feathery and scaly.
Dale has a lot of practice photographing owls, which can be challenging. He saw there was a snowstorm coming and headed out early in the morning, when the owls are most active. As the short-eared owl looked for field mice, Dale used a telephoto lens and a monopod to help support the camera tracking, which allowed him to capture this beautifully crisp image.
One of the joys of exploring outdoors in Washington state is the chance of seeing spectacular wildlife. Keith captured this photo of a young moose in Spokane County. The rich autumn colors and the slight fuzz of the moose add a rich, warm detail to the scene.
Autumn in Washington is a great time to photograph moments full of warm tones. Kory was inspired by this as he was hiking along the Hoh River Trail in Olympic National Park. He saw some fall foliage in a small puddle of water and decided to use a polarizing filter in the camera lens so it could reduce the glare and show more of the leaves under the water.
Photos highlighting landscapes east of the Cascade Mountains.
Back in spring, Emily was hiking near the local landmark known as “The Devil’s Punchbowl” at Steamboat Rock State Park when she noticed the perfect waterfall cascading down at the center. She had photographed this landscape before, but this time the lighting and the clouds were special and reminded her of a scene from a fairytale. Emily wanted to show the contrast she was seeing in real life, which led her to convert the image to a black and white version, allowing the landscape to shine.
Photos taken from trails around the state and shared on Instagram.
Sometimes a walk in the park is all you need when you want to appreciate the wildlife. And for Bruno, the Union Bay Natural Area became his favorite spot for bird watching. One morning, as Bruno was on a photowalk ready to use his new telephoto lens, he spotted a majestic young hawk and a wasp looking at each other. The scene reminded him of the start of a fable.
