Virgin River Program Calendar

Each year, the Virgin River Program creates a calendar featuring photographs of the Virgin River Basin. In addition to beautiful photos, the calendars include information on native wildlife species in the area and activities of the Virgin River Program.

These calendars are printed each December and distributed for free to schools and municipal offices throughout Washington County. They are also available to the public at no cost at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Washington County Field Office and the Washington County Water Conservancy District Office.

The gallery below highlights a selection of past photo contest winners.

2025 Photo Contest Winners

This year's 2025 calendar features winning images from photos submitted in 2023 and 2024.

Thank you to all of the outstanding photographers who participated!

The 2026 photo contest is open for submissions, please send your amazing photos here!

Angles Landing and North Fork
Grand Prize & January Winner
Angles Landing and North Fork Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Brad Campbell
February Winner
Pine Creek, Zion National Park, UT
By: Charyn McDonnell
Flowing over Red Mountain into Hellhole Canyon,
March Winner
Kayenta Wash, Flowing over Red Mountain into Hellhole Canyon, Washington County, UT
By: Timothy York
April Winner
Gunlock State Park, Santa Clara River, UT
By: William Andrea
May Winner
Falls Park, Virgin River, Virgin, UT
By: Shawn Green
June Winner
Mule Deer, North Fork Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Shawn Green
July Winner
Virgin River, Red Cliffs National Conservation Area, Washington County, UT
By: Janelle Newell
August Winner
Pine Valley Reservoir, Santa Clara River, UT
By: Ron Broad
October Winner
Big Bend, Zion Canyon, Zion National Park, UT
By: Melinda Bennion/Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
November Winner
Blue Springs Reservoir, Kolob, UT
By: Brad Campbell
December Winner
Looking North up Zion Canyon, Zion National Park, UT
By: Gary Leverett

2024 Photo Contest Winners

The 2024 calendar features winning images from previous Virgin River photography contests. We're celebrating the best-of-the-best by highlighting grand prize winners from the 2010-2023 calendars.

Thank you to the outstanding photographers who have participated over the years!

A waterfall in the middle of a forest.
Grand Prize – 2018 Winner
Double Falls, Right Fork of North Creek, Zion National Park, UT
By: Amy Osness
A tree on the side of a cliff with mountains in the background.
Introduction Page - 2013 Winner
Gooseberry Mesa Overlook
By: Susan Whalen
A river with snow on the banks and mountains in the background.
January – 2011 Winner
Court of the Patriarchs, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Ronald Anderson
A mountain range with snow on it and sun shining.
February – 2021 Winner
Angel’s Landing and the North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Doug Wilson
A mountain range with water and rocks in the foreground.
March – 2019 Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Bart Richins
A river running through the middle of a field.
April – 2010 Winner
Sunset on the Virgin River at Falls Park, Virgin, UT.
By: Lani Cannon
A painting of the grand canyon with trees in the foreground.
May – 2017 Winner
Zion Canyon and the North Fork of the Virgin River from Scout Lookout, Zion National Park, UT
By: Doug Wilson
A waterfall with two small waterfalls in the middle of it.
June – 2014 Winner
Toquerville Falls, La Verkin Creek, UT
By: Shay Jolley
A desert with lightning in the sky.
July – 2015 Winner
Lightning storm over the Reservoir at Sand Hollow State Park, UT
By: Alex Chamberlain
A rock formation on top of a mountain with dark clouds in the background.
August – 2020 Winner
The Citadel, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Nathan St. Andre
A waterfall is shown in the middle of a cave.
September – 2016 Winner
Behind the Double Falls on the Right Fork of North Creek, Zion National Park, UT
By: David Swindler
A painting of the river in front of a canyon.
October – 2012 Winner
Fall in the Virgin River Narrows, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Brad Campbell
A painting of the mountains and trees in autumn.
November – 2023 Winner
Fall Cottonwoods along the North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, UT
By: Kyle Gubler
A body of water surrounded by snow covered mountains.
December – 2022 Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion Canyon, Zion National Park, UT
By: Shawn Green

2023 Photo Contest Winners

A painting of the mountains and trees in autumn.
Grand Prize & October Winner
Fall Cottonwoods along the North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: Kyle Gubler
A painting of a desert landscape with snow on the mountains.
January Winner
Petrified Dunes, Snow Canyon State Park
By: Ron Broad
A snowy landscape with red rock formations in the background.
February Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River and Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park
By: Ilene Bandringa
A small pond in the middle of a desert.
March Winner
Ephemeral Pool along the Petrified Dunes, Snow Canyon State Park
By: Amy Osness
A cave with water in it and trees
April Winner
The Subway, Left Fork of North Creek, Zion National Park
By: Joshua Abraham
A bird flying over the water with its wings spread.
May Winner
Greater Yellowlegs, Sand Hollow State Park
By: Rick Fridell
A long pole in the middle of some rocks
June Winner
The Subway, Left Fork of North Creek, Zion National Park
By: Brad Campbell
A sunset over the water and grass in the foreground.
July Winner
Blue Springs Reservoir, Blue Creek
By: Alan Duff
A night sky with the milky way in the background.
August Winner
Milky Way over Gunlock State Park, Santa Clara River
By: Gary Leverett
A painting of the mountains and trees in zion national park.
September Winner
Angel’s Landing Trail, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: William Andrea
A tree with snow on it in front of some rocks
December Winner
Winter Cottonwood, Zion Canyon, Zion National Park
By: Shawn Green

2022 Photo Contest Winners

A body of water surrounded by snow covered mountains.
Grand Prize Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: Shawn Green
A tree with snow on it in front of some mountains
January Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River, Temple of Sinawava, Zion National Park
By: Ilene Bandringa
A river flowing through the middle of a valley.
February Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River, Court of the Patriarchs, Zion National Park
By: Gary Leverett
A body of water with rocks in the foreground and mountains behind it.
March Winner
Gunlock Reservoir & Square Top Mountain, Gunlock State Park
By: Duke Breitenbach
A view of the grand canyon from the rim.
April Winner
Ephemeral waterfall, Hurricane Mesa
By: Doug Wilson
A black and white bird walking across the water.
May Winner
Black-necked Stilt, Sand Hollow State Park
By: Rick Fridell
A river flowing through the middle of a canyon.
June Winner
Left Fork of North Creek, Zion National Park
By: Charyn McDonnell
A large cloud formation over the desert.
July Winner
Summer storm over Cave Valley, Zion National Park
By: John Valenti
A muddy river running through the desert.
August Winner
Summer flood on the Virgin River, Falls Park, Virgin Town
By: Shirley Smith
A river flowing through the rocks at sunset.
September Winner
Falls Park, Virgin Town
By: Amy Osness
A river flowing through the middle of a canyon.
October Winner
Gateway to the Narrows, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: Brad Campbell
A large rock formation with trees in the foreground.
November Winner
Fall cottonwoods, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: Shawn Green
A tree is reflected in the water of a lake.
December Winner
Sand Hollow Reservoir, Sand Hollow State Park
By: Ron Broad

2021 Photo Contest Winners

A mountain range with snow on it and sun shining.
Grand Prize Winner
Angel’s Landing and the North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: Doug Wilson
A rock formation in the middle of a river.
January Winner
Sand Wash, Snow Canyon State Park
By: Duke Breitenbach
A waterfall in the middle of a mountain.
February Winner
Flanigan Diversion Dam, North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park
By: Mike Brody
A river flowing through the middle of a cave.
March Winner
The Barracks, Upper Parunuweap Canyon, East Fork of the Virgin River
By: Melissa Buchman
A stream with water running over the rocks.
April Winner
Santa Clara River, Crosby Family Confluence Park
By: Ron Broad
A small waterfall in the middle of a rock cave.
May Winner
The Subway Potholes, North Creek, Zion National Park
By: Jo Meyers
A body of water with rocks in the middle.
July Winner
Blue Springs Reservoir, Kolob
By: Brad Campbell
A river with water flowing through it and rocks.
August Winner
Virgin River Gorge, Virgin River Canyon Recreation Area
By: Jerry Reber
A duck swimming in the water on a sunny day.
September Winner
Wood Duck, Santa Clara River
By: Rick Fridell
A river with grass and trees in the background
October Winner
Blue Springs Reservoir, Kolob
By: Alan Duff
A waterfall that is in the middle of some rocks.
November Winner
Toquerville Falls, Ash Creek
By: Amy Osness
A field with tall grass and mountains in the background.
December Winner
North Fork of the Virgin River, Heaps Canyon, Zion National Park
By: Doug Wilson

2020 Photo Contest Winners

A mountain with trees and rocks in the background
Grand Prize Winner
By: Nathan St. Andre
A river running through the middle of a valley.
January Winner
By: Nathan St. Andre
A stream running through the middle of a forest.
February Winner
By: Robin Mueller
A painting of the mountains and trees in front of them.
March Winner
By: Ilene Bandringa
A waterfall is shown on the rocks near water.
April Winner
By: Amy Osness
A canyon with water and rocks in the middle of it
May Winner
By: Robert Lefkow
A waterfall that is on the side of a river.
June Winner
By: Doug Wilson
A sunset with the sky in the background and clouds
July Winner
By: Brad Campbell
A large cloud formation over the desert.
August Winner
By: John Valenti
A painting of the desert with mountains in the background.
September Winner
By: Ron Broad
A duck swimming in the water near some trees.
October Winner
By: Rick Fridell
A body of water with snow on the mountains
November Winner
By: Shirley Smith
A bridge that is under some snow covered trees.
December Winner
By: Gary Leverett