bike seeds: [PHOTOS] Our favorite snapshots of public lands

Momoko, in the middle of the holiday rush—and at the tail-end of one of the most turbulent years for public lands in recent history—we'd like to invite you to pause for a moment.

Breathe in… breathe out… and take a scroll through the stunning photos below—winners of The Wilderness Society's staff photo contest, shared in celebration of public lands and voted on by supporters like you.

Each one is a vivid reminder of why we do this work day in and day out: to protect the wild places where we explore, connect and find inspiration in nature's beauty—and so that future generations have the freedom to enjoy them as well.

📍Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Balsam Range
📸 Kristin Iden, Director of IT
🏅Best Public Lands Landscape Photo

"I took this photo after a long day of moving. I went up to my favorite spot in the Smokies where my ancestors are from and watched the storm clouds and sun play across the Balsams, grateful for time to breathe."

Brown dog with a Green vest in Gallatin Range, Montana.

📍Gallatin Range, Montana
📸 Kathryn Eklund, Southwest Montana Community Conservation Specialist
🏅Best Pets on Public Lands Photo

"Our family loves to backpack, our dog Rossie especially so. On this day we had woken up early to have coffee and breakfast atop Hyalite Peak, and were greeted by a baby mountain goat as we made our way to the top!"

📍Glacier National Park
📸 Jim Ramey, Colorado State Director
🏅Best Public Lands Wildlife Photo

"My wife and I took our very first hike in Glacier National Park to the Hidden Lake overlook from the Logan Pass visitor center. The family of mountain goats that came rambling up the trail was a wonderful welcome!"

Thank you for being part of our community, Momoko—I hope that these photos brought a moment of peace and reflection to your busy day.

— The Wilderness Society

P.S. Your generosity makes our work to protect public lands possible. If you're able to, please consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Your donation will be triple matched by a generous longtime supporter, up to $1 million, to help us ensure that public lands remain free, wild and thriving for generations to come.