2023 State-By-State Photo Contest Favorites - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

In 2023, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy put out the call for photos from each of the 14 states through which the Appalachian Trail passes.

The A.T. is over 2,100 miles long, connecting the rolling green mountains of Georgia to the rocky ranges of Maine. With such diverse landscapes, weather patterns, plants, and wildlife, each Trail state has unique features and beauty worth capturing and celebrating.

2023 Photo Contest Favorites

Seeing the iconic and natural beauty of the A.T. through the perspective of more than 580 individuals who submitted 1,900 photos is a testament to the Trail community’s passion for this special and ecologically diverse landscape. A handful of photographers submitted photos from nearly every state with 4 people sending in photos for more than 10 of the 14 Trail states.

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The snowy Georgia path on its way north. Photo by the Corbet Family, "Spreadsheets", "Cautious K", "Bananas", and "Goldfish" (@ourownflow)

Miles of views from Blood Mountain, Georgia. Photo by Beulah "Bad Bat" Cannon.

A snowy day in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Photo by Anita Wagner (@hikewytheus).

Roan Highlands - Hump Mountain Descent. Photo by Patrick Hare @HappyCampHares

Roan Highlands, North Carolina - Hump Mountain Descent. Photo by Patrick Hare (@HappyCampHares).

A snowy campsite near Overmountain Shelter. Photo by Brian Corbett @ourownflow

A snowy campsite near Overmountain Shelter in North Carolina. Photo by Brian Corbett (@ourownflow).

View point on the ridgeline shortly before Franklin in Nantahala National Forest. Photo by Patrick Hare @HappyCampHares

View point on the ridgeline shortly before Franklin in Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina. Photo by Patrick Hare (@HappyCampHares).

Roan Mountain, North Carolina. Photo by Thomas Mabry (@honeybadgerimages).

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Blaze on Big Bald. Photo by Rebecca Kneale (@foreverbecky).

Tennessee. Photo by Leslie Newton (@dragonflyhikes).

Photo of Grayson Highlands ponies by Mark "Father Goose" Dunn

Wilburn Ridge via the A.T. near Massie Gap, Grayson Highlands, Virginia. Photo by Mark Dunn.

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Blaze near Mount Rogers, Virginia. Photo by Mark "TwoPack" Wagner.

McAfee Knob, Virginia. Photo by Elizabeth "Worm" Denham.

Fun at McAfee Knob. Photo by Tim Lewis.

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Blueberries growing along the Trail in Pennsylvania. Photo by Michele "Griswold" Coleman.

Cat Rock Overlook near Pawling, New York. Photo by Jane Haslam Photography (@janehaslamphotography_nature).

Stone stairs near Canopus Lake, New York. Photo by Mark "TwoPack" Wagner.

Waterfall surrounded by bright red fall foliage

Falls Village, Connecticut. Photo by Kevin Prendergast

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Playing peek-a-boo at St. John's Ledges, Connecticut. Photo by Anita "Low Gear" Smith.

Kent Pond, Vermont. Photo by Brandon Elgun (@be_intransit).

Franconia Ridge, New Hampshire. Photo by Kyle Russo (@kjr.jpg).

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Trail between the Long Pond Stream lean-to and the Barren Ledges, Maine. Photo by Graham Dickie (@instadickie).

Mahoosuc Notch, Maine. Photo by Paul Burks.

To all who submitted, thank you for sharing the beauty of the Appalachian Trail with the world!

Don’t forget to share your photos of the Appalachian Trail by tagging your photos with #ATCSpotlight on Instagram, Threads, and X (formerly Twitter). We also accept photo and story submissions on an ongoing basis via our submission form below.

Submit your photos & stories