Fall Events

FALL PHOTO CONTEST: SEPT. 6 – NOVEMBER 6

Calling All Photographers!

The contest runs September 6 through November 6, 2026, and is open to both amateur and professional photographers.

Love capturing the beauty of West Virginia’s State Parks, Forests, and Rail Trails? The West Virginia State Parks Foundation invites you to submit your best shots to the “Mountains Are Always Free” Photo Contest.

Recent 2026 Winners

Contest Catogories Include:

• Fall Beauty – Scenic fall landscapes across West Virginia state park areas

• Outdoor Recreation – Your favorite fall activities (hiking, fishing, leaf-viewing and more)

• Wildlife – Wild animals in their natural park habitats

• Plants – Flora and blooms found throughout park areas

• Pets in Parks – Your companion enjoying West Virginia’s great outdoors

Download the Press Release

Press Release

Contest Rules

By submitting a photo to this contest, you agree to the following rules:

All photos must be taken on a WV State Park, State forest, or WVDNR managed Rail Trail. Up to three photos may be submitted per individual, per category. Submission must be received by Nov 6, 2026. All photos must be original. Light edits/enhancements only – images with heavy effects, manipulations, watermarks, unnatural saturation, exposure, or contrast will not be considered. Entrants must obtain written permission from any individual or group of individuals featured in a photograph and submit with photo. West Virginia State Parks Foundation and WVDNR staff will make selections based on the quality, composition, content, originality, creativity, and mass appeal. Decisions are final and in sole and absolute discretion of staff. By entering the contest, you grant the Foundation and WVDNR a royalty-free, world-wide, perpetual, non-exclusive license to publicly display, distribute, reproduce, and create derivative works of the entries, in whole or in part, in any media now existing or later developed, for any purpose, including, but not limited to, advertising and promotion of the Foundation and its website, exhibition, and commercial products, including but not limited to Foundation publications. Any photograph reproduced will include a photographer credit as feasible. The West Virginia State Parks Foundation nor WVDNR will be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such uses.

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