We love this contest because it lets us experience the Boundary Waters through your perspective. This year’s submissions were incredible, and picking the winners was no easy task. We’re thrilled to finally share this year’s standout entries.

On the Water category

Being on the water is movement. It’s how we travel, paddling across lakes and rivers, finding a rhythm, and letting the lake carry you. There’s a meditative flow when paddling becomes automatic, leaving full attention on the sights and sounds around you.

Brent Lind’s winning photo captures that feeling beautifully. The paddler is in motion, yet the moment feels completely still. The water mirrors the canoe perfectly, and soft morning light filters through misty trees. It’s a quiet, graceful snapshot of the rhythm and calm that being on the water can bring.

Wildlife category

Brent won again! This time with an image of a heron on Lake One, a striking bird that immediately caught our attention. Herons are inherently cool—prehistoric, graceful, and a little mysterious. Brent noted it was just a couple hundred yards from the put-in in the Kawishiwi Triangle, flanked by a pair of swans that didn’t make the final crop but hinted at an exciting day of wildlife spotting.

Landscape category

This beautiful shot comes from Cummings Lake, captured on a crisp morning at the end of July. Photographer Nora Johnston grew up visiting the Boundary Waters with her family, and this was her first trip back as a college student with friends. The day before, they completed a nearly two-mile portage to find the perfect campsite. The next morning, the calm lake and soft light made her stop and take this photo.

Later that day, they paddled the Little Indian Sioux River for thirteen hours, got a little lost, and finished a mile-long portage in the dark. The challenges only made the trip more memorable, but this photo captures that quiet, magical moment at camp that stays with you long after the paddling ends.

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Kids category

Chris Brink has entered our photo contest for a few years, and this was his first submission in the Kids category. The winning photo shows his little one asleep in the canoe, floating on Hegman Lake on a quiet morning, calming ripples seemingly rocking her to sleep. Chris says, “It was one of her longest naps she’d had up to that point.” They even carried the canoe along a portage with the baby still asleep, which makes the moment even more impressive. The photo perfectly captures the, tender, and special moments that happen when you share your favorite place with a child.

Friends and Family category

The winner of our Friends and Family category is Thomas Yacovone. Last summer, he and some friends traveled from New York City for their first Boundary Waters experience. Thomas says, “It was a 10/10 camp out, never caught so many fish in our life.” They paddled from Fall Lake to Mudro Lake via the Basswood and Horse Rivers, and the photo was taken on Basswood.

He adds, “We also stayed a few days in Minneapolis and went to the state fair. One of the best trips of our lives, we all loved Minnesota so much.” The image captures a human, bare in the wilderness, clad only in his mustache, soaking in the effort, curiosity, and discovery that comes with experiencing this place for the first time.

Dogs category

This is easily the hardest category because ALL dogs are winners, but we ultimately chose this photo of Goose on his first Boundary Waters trip, blending into the landscape. Goose’s day looked pretty textbook: find a breezy rock, escape the bugs, and take a nap. Willie says Goose settled in fast and made himself right at home, and this definitely won’t be his last visit. The photo is a sweet reminder that sometimes the best trips are about finding a quiet spot and letting the place do the rest.

Winter category

The winner of our Winter category is Catherine Collins. Her family visits the Boundary Waters year-round, and winter is their favorite season. On hikes, they play a game hiding behind trees and shaking snow down on unsuspecting relatives. Her photo from the trail to Lonely Lake captures that mix of quiet and play that winter offers.

Vintage category

The winner of our Vintage category is Ron Holt, who has spent decades exploring the Boundary Waters with family, friends, and Scout groups. He has paddled in places like Canada’s Algonquin Park, Maine’s Allagash River, and Montana’s Missouri River, but, as he says, nothing ever matched the pristine beauty and serenity of the Boundary Waters.

This photo was taken by Bill Hansen of Sawbill Canoe Outfitters at the end of one of Ron’s trips. “Obviously, personal hygiene was not a high priority in our experiences,” Ron jokes. The image perfectly captures that end-of-trip feeling with tired arms, good company, and the quiet satisfaction of time spent on the water. Two years ago, at age 80, Ron made his most recent canoe trip with his grandson and a Scout troop, showing that adventure in the Boundary Waters can span generations.

Congratulations and Thanks

Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo this year. We’re grateful to see the Boundary Waters through your stories and can’t wait to see what you share next year.

Want to see even more amazing shots? Check out our 2024 winners, 2023 winners, 2022 winners and 2021 winners or follow us on Instagram. To start getting ready for next year’s contest, explore these tips, and a presentation on better canoe and kayak photos from professional photographer Bryan Hansel.

While we’re looking ahead, do you have any ideas for a new category we should add to the contest? We’d love to hear your thoughts.