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Check out upcoming contest topics, and submit your essay(s) or photo(s) for others to enjoy. Viewers can vote on their favorite essays and images, and entries with the most votes will be featured on the Web site, and earn consideration from our editorial and production staff for appearing in the magazine!

The West is not just about the varied terrain in which we live, but the collection of perspectives and realities of the people who occupy this inspiring land. Add your voice to High Country News – or enjoy those of other readers – and embrace your community of fellow people who care about the West.

finishedThis contest has ended.

The Natural West

Entries: (182)
Began: Feb 01, 2010
Ended: Mar 15, 2010

Check out these fantastic landscapes of the American West! Thanks to all participants who submitted and voted on these images.
(Read more ...)

Winning Entry

votes
203
Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

by Aaron Merritt — Photo I took of the Grand Prismatic Spring while visiting Yellowstone National Park.

by eemass 3
3

Resting

Mule deer near Dry Gulch Road

by eemass 7
7

Mammoth Hot Springs

One of the different views at Yellowstone

by eemass 4
4

East River Valley above Gothic

A beautiful view with clouds in the sky and running water

by Tommyg 2
2

Sunset

The sun peeking through the clouds as a summer thunderstorm passes by.

by yrag 4
4

Proud Eagle

This Bald Eagle posed for me on highway 89 in Southern Utah just North of Kanab, Utah.

by rlernst 9
9

Tallgrass Prairie

Sunset on the prairie.

by rlernst 14
14
1

Chiricahua Mountains

Sunset in the Chiricahua Mountains.

by rlernst 10
10

Hallett Peak

Aspens beneath the peak in Rocky Mountain National Park.

by vibramman 6
6

The Keyhole

Side canyon along the Paria river

by wyophoto 14
14

Bull Moose in the Tetons

A mature bull moose browses at sunset near the Teton Range in winter.

by vibramman 2
2

Late Spring in Nevada

The Santa Rosa Range in Northern Nevada

by vibramman 6
6

The Buckskin

A hike through Buckskin Gulch in Utah

by lhiatt 41
41

Telluride Leaves

Water droplets collecting on Aspen leaves after a fall storm in Telluride, CO

by lhiatt 38
38
1

Lenticular Clouds

Lenticular Clouds near the Crazy Mountains during a Montana Summer

by lhiatt 38
38

St. Elmo's Reflection

One of the many old cabins from the ghost town of St. Elmo, Colorado

by Uhlman 3
by jfenicle 2
2

Canyon reflections

Red cliffs reflecting in the Dolores River, Gateway Canyon, Colorado

by ensner 1
1

WINTER HOME~Trap Door Spider

TRAPDORIS ARACHNIDA GIGANTIS keeps an eye out for its potential evening meal. Mostly subsisting on small rodents and birds, they have been known to dart out and grab deer, coyotes, or the unsuspecting cross-country skier!

by lauriJeanne 0
0

Feb 2010

a freak 2 day snow storm in February brought this in.... The poor birds kept diving into the snow on the bird feeder.

by donwtaylor 1
1

A Fine Fall Day in the Aspens - Floating Gold

This is one of the ground-level perspectives of the view that everyone stops for along the Peak to Peak Highway above Nederland CO each Fall.

by donwtaylor 1
1

A Fine Fall Day in the Aspens

This is the ground-level perspective of the view that everyone stops for along the Peak to Peak Highway above Nederland CO each Fall.

by donwtaylor 7
7

Isabel Lake - Indian Peaks Wilderness

A beautiful destination for a summer day hike close to Boulder.

by hollymac 4
4

Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird moth in garden, Santa Fe, NM.

by hollymac 3
3

Oyster mushrooms

Oyster mushrooms in Santa Fe, NM.

by hollymac 2
2

Santa Fe sunset

Santa Fe, NM sunset.

by djschipper 9
9

Snow on Cedar Breaks

Cedar Breaks National Monument

by djschipper 3
3

Next Day Launch

Evening at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado River

by Sam Camp of Campphoto.com 4
4

Escalante Country

View of Henry Mountains from Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

by Sam Camp of Campphoto.com 19
19
1

Arches National Park

View of La Sal Mountains photo © Sam Camp

by campphoto 10
10

Canyonlands Sunset

View of Salt Creek area and Island in the Sky Mesa photo © Sam Camp 2002

by redrockhiker 60
60
2

Bristlecone Pine

Bristlecone Pine, North Loop Trail (10,000 ft.) Mt. Charleston area, Las Vegas, NV

by redrockhiker 63
63
2

Calico Hills, Red Rock Canyon

This place is only 17 miles west of the Las Vegas strip.

by snead233 1
1

Sunrise in Colorado

sun rise on Mt. Evans taken at 5:45 an

by Aaron Merritt 203
203

Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone National Park

Photo I took of the Grand Prismatic Spring while visiting Yellowstone National Park.

by Mtnphoto 5
5

Waves of Trees

Photo taken near Kebler Pass, Colorado

by Mtnphoto 15
15

Morning at Moraine Lake.

This photo was taken at first light at Moraine Lake, Banff National Park Canada.

by myersphoto 4
4

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah

Photo of Delicate Arch, taken from the north side of the neighboring canyon, showing the many visitors.

by myersphoto 1
1

Aspens, Kenosha Pass, Colorado

Late afternoon biking on the Colorado Trail at Kenosha Pass, Colorado

by myersphoto 4
4

Hiking Fins, Moab, UT

Late afternoon hike among the fins, outside of Moab, Utah

by karin811 15
15

Calmness

Even thou its the rugged of the lava, the massive roar an clash of the Maui ocean there is still a Calmness at this spot!

by karin811 14
14

Waimea Canyon

Hawaii's Grand Canyon, also has the wettest spot on earth! Averaging more than 426 inches of rain a year.

by karin811 20
20
2

Rebirth

The Big Island of Hawaii in 2008 as she is expanding herself!

by djschipper 3
3

Monumental Undertaking

South on HWY 163 into Monument Valley

by LivB 27
27

Afternoon Siesta in Stanley Basin

A quarter mile outside of Stanley Idaho, on a sunny February afternoon, the local elk herd takes a break. Not bothered by the proximity of the town or the road, they pose for the occasional photo in their high meadow paradise.

by Zudiere 2
2

Morning mist on the Flatirons

Flatirons of Boulder, as seen in the morning mist.

by DRenwald 12
12

Thermal Pool in Yellowstone

Taken 15 feet away from an extended monopod and self timer.

by marsh 12
12
2

Wild in the Pryors

Weanlings, Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range, Montana, 8/2009

by omerpearlman 14
14

Defiance

A lone prairie sunflower stands tall in Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado

by omerpearlman 2
2

Elk Crossing

A female elk boldly crossing the road outside Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

by rhpayne 21
21

East River Near Gothic

At this point, the East River is but a mountain stream and presents an interesting contrast with the fall foliage, rocks, and the clouds in a blue sky.

by rhpayne 42
42

Cabins on Ohio Pass Road

The weathered old cabins make for a stark and dramatic contrast with the fall foliage,

by Zudiere 6
6

Rock of ages

Two ravens atop the rocks coming out of Sugarloaf Canyon near Boulder, Colorado.

by rhpayne 29
29

Ferns & Aspen

This was along the road near Horse Ranch Park west of Kebler Pass. The light filtered through the fall aspen leaves on the now yellow ferns was captivating.

by havelina 2
2

Sunset over the Grand Canyon

A last minute capture of sunset over the western edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

by jhawk77 0
0

New Mexico Impression

Taken from the foothills of Sandia Mtn. Looking west toward Mt. Taylor.

by Zudiere 2
2

High Country Columbine

Gorgeous orange Columbine, found near Ward, Colorado. One of my personal favorites that truly depicts mountain living.

by rusdun 1
1

Southwestern SpottedOwl

Southwestern (or Mexican) Spotted Owl in lower Sabino Canyon, Santa Catalina Mountains, near Tucson, AZ

by Jeannie 2
2

Perfect Columbine

The trail to Mica Basin in the Zirkel Wilderness Area has always been a favorite. Annually I make the hike with the intention of capturing the perfect columbine photo for that year. This is from 2009.

by kbearchief 3
3

time passes

photo of an old homestead on HWY 22 in south central Washington.

by lydiawyoming 3
3

winter waning

This photo was taken in the Madison Valley, Montana in late winter of 2009.

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