WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2025 — We are thrilled to announce the winners of Scenic America’s 2025 America the Beautiful Photo Contest! With more than 600 photos to peruse and evaluate, the contest’s four judges had a lot to consider, and it was no easy task. Our contestants made clear that America’s beauty continues to inspire photographers from coast to coast. They captured not only the grandeur of our country’s most picturesque landscapes but also the heart and character of our communities.

The enthusiasm was not limited to the photographers. Casting a total of 1,854 online votes, people from across the nation chose their favorites. The top three finishers in the public vote are featured below, along with the judges’ top choices overall and in each category.

Here are the winners of this year’s America the Beautiful Photo Contest:

Overall

Best in Show

“The Roads Less Traveled” by David Alfano (Spanaway, WA)

First Runner-Up

“Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park” by David Bishop (Gladstone, MI)

Second Runner-Up

“Walk with Me” by Adam Bowen (Cody, WY)

Beaches, Oceans, Shorelines

Best in Class

“Reaching” by Theresa Rasmussen (Fredericksburg, VA)

First Runner-Up

“The Monolith at Pistol River” by Larry Johnson (Littleton, CO)

Second Runner-Up

“Pacific Sunset at California’s Asilomar State Beach” by Angelo Mamone (Trafford, PA)

Cities & Towns

Best in Class

“Seattle Golden Hour” by David Demarest (Monroe, WA)

First Runner-Up

“Night Lights of San Diego Skyline” by Stephen Crane (Wescosville, PA)

Second Runner-Up

“Mount Rainier Seen in Tacoma” by Fadi Asmar (Seattle, WA)

Highways, Byways, & Roads

Best in Class

“The Roads Less Traveled” by David Alfano (Spanaway, WA)

First Runner-Up

“Road to Hoh” by Steven Kelly (Hope Mills, NC)

Second Runner-Up

“Country Roads” by Peggy Yaeger (Corbin, KY)

Mountains

Best in Class

“Jane Bald Sunset” by Theresa Rasmussen (Fredericksburg, VA)

First Runner-Up

“Nature’s Ripples in the Desert” by Stephen Crane (Wescosville, PA)

Second Runner-Up

“California Gold — Yosemite National Park” by Angelo Mamone (Trafford, PA)

Parks & Open Spaces

Best in Class

“Whitman County Growers — Palouse, Washington” by Sonya Lang (Marysville, WA)

First Runner-Up

“Monumental Window” by Angelo Mamone (Trafford, PA)

Second Runner-Up

“The Storm Flowers” by Larry Johnson (Littleton, CO)

Rivers & Lakes

Best in Class

“Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park” by David Bishop (Gladstone, MI)

First Runner-Up

“Autumn at Babcock State Park” by Lillian Stewart (Princeton, WV)

Second Runner-Up

“Oxbow Bend on the Snake River” by David Demarest (Monroe, WA)

Trees & Forests

Best in Class

“An Alpine Oasis” by Larry Johnson (Littleton, CO)

First Runner-Up

“Mazarick Park” by Steven Kelly (Hope Mills, NC)

Second Runner-Up

“Ginko Glory at the State Arboretum of Virginia” by Theresa Rasmussen (Fredericksburg, VA)

People

Best in Class

“Field Trip” by Peter Baechle (Webster Groves, MO)

First Runner-Up

“Where History Meets the Road” by Amy Beadle (Springfield, IL)

Second Runner-Up

“Manasota Key Sunset” by David Bishop (Gladstone, MI)

Animals

Best in Class

“Walk with Me” by Adam Bowen (Cody, WY)

First Runner-Up

“Forest Song of the Wolf” by Stephen Crane (Wescosville, PA)

Second Runner-Up

“A Family Portrait” by Adam Bowen (Cody, WY)

People’s Choice (Public Vote)

Winner

“Fire in the Sky” by Jessie Bernhardt (Bethlehem, PA)

First Runner-Up

“Sunset, YNP” by Fan Zhou (Springfield, MO)

Second Runner-Up

“Window to the Garden of the Gods” by Christopher Harper (Clarksville, TN)

Congratulations to all winners and participants — our photographers, voters, and judges — for making this year’s contest one to remember!