Photo contests are about much more than recognizing talented shutterbugs. These celebrations of the medium can force us to slow down and take a moment to truly appreciate what we’re looking at.
The social media platforms we all use — the ones filled with more jaw-dropping images than a Life magazine retrospective — are still more known for “doomscrolling” than for quiet moments taking in the details of a single image.
This is why the 2025 Pacific Crest Trail Photo Contest is such a feast for the eyes. These images come from actual hikers sharing their expression of the transcendent experiences unique to a thru-hike.
That could mean a moment alone amid the tranquility of nature. Or it could mean the emotional release when Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers finally reach the terminus of their 2,600-mile journey.
This year’s selection offers many stunning photographs, broken into several different categories that show off the trail’s range of human experience. From “trail majesty” to “human spirit,” these photos are more than worth your time. They may even give you a mental break from the turbulent world around us. The following images are the highlights of more than 1,000 photo submissions that “poured in” from the PCT community.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to receive such astonishing photographs each for the contest — our judges are always struggling to pick the best of the best with so many top-tier submissions,” said Chris Rylee, director of communications for the Pacific Crest Trail Association, which hosts the contest.
We’ve included a few selections from the contest’s winners, courtesy of the organization, as well as links to the photographers’ websites (when available). For example, visit the photo site of Marley Butler, featured above, for more stellar outdoor images.
1st-Place Overall Winner: Diego Acuña
Location: Rae Lakes, Sierra Nevada
From photographer Diego Acuña: I woke up in the middle of the night, stepped out of my tent, and found myself under an endless spectacle of stars. Sitting on a rock near the water, I waited for the first glow of dawn to begin reflecting off the snow-covered mountains in front of me. The scene was set — the mountains’ reflection on the water was crystal clear, and the faint shimmer of the rising sun had yet to dim the stars above.
At that moment, it was mind-blowing to realize I was witnessing a portrait of history. The light reaching my eyes had been traveling for anywhere from four to 11,000 years, a living record of time seen by a simple observer from Earth. In that beautiful place, I felt incredibly small — tiny against the towering peaks of Glenn Pass, insignificant before the vastness of our universe.
2nd-Place Overall Winner: Elizabeth Rudischer
Location: Knife’s Edge, Washington, mile 2,249
From photographer Elizabeth Rudischer: The picture shows a group of mountain goats climbing down the mountain at Knife’s Edge. I didn’t see them first until a fellow hiker pointed them out to me. There were probably 25 adult individuals with at least five or six offspring; I couldn’t fit all of them in one picture. One might be confused why one should put a picture with white animals on a white snowfield into black and white, but I really like how well the shadows stand out in the black and white version of it.
Category Winners
The PCT Photo Contest also includes six categories for other winning images: Trail Majesty, Human Spirit, Flora, Fauna, Equestrian, and Trail Work.
Each category shows off three overall winning photos and three more honorable mentions. Here are a few of our favorites.
3rd-Place Winner of Trail Majesty: Jacqueline Eckhardt
This image, taken in October 2024, shows that the Northern Lights can amaze hikers in the lower 48 as much as those who venture further north into Canada and Alaska. According to photographer Jacqueline Eckhardt, who has many more incredible images on her Instagram page, the photo was taken on her final night on the PCT.
Human Spirit Winners: Marilyn Sikes, Louise Tynan
Most PCT hikers end their journey at the trail’s northern terminus at the U.S.–Canada border. Finishing this epic journey can bring a mixed bag of emotions, as these juxtaposed images illustrate better than any description I could offer.
1st-Place Fauna Winner: Kevin Mullen
From photographer Kevin Mullen: This marmot is pictured staring off into the distance with an empty head. As the photographer, I can confirm that there was nothing to the left that would interest a marmot.
Still want more incredible images from the PCT? Visit the website of the Pacific Crest Trail Association to see all the winning photographs of this fun contest.
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