The GREAT outdoors: The spellbinding winners of a competition that asked travellers to photograph America's National Parks

  • Over 15,000 entries were submitted to the fifth Share The Experience Contest - and the winners were amazing
  • First place of $10,000 (£6,922) was awarded to Yang Lu, for a sunset shot at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
  • America's National Park Service is currently in its centennial year and to celebrate is offering 16 days of free entry

Goats framed by the sunset, a grazing bison and the Milky Way dazzling the Badlands of South Dakota.

These breathtaking images are the prize-winning entries of a photographic competition run to capture the spellbinding beauty of America's National Parks. 

Over 15,000 entries were submitted to the fifth Share the Experience Contest last year, with both travellers and amateur photographers sharing their favourite images from the 400 parks in the National Park system.

First place of $10,000 (£6,922) was awarded to Yang Lu, for a sunset shot at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah. This was followed by Koustubh Kulkarni's picture taken at 49 Palms Trail at Joshua Tree National Park in California, in second place.

America's National Park Service is currently in its centennial year and to celebrate is offering 16 days of free entry in 2016, the next dates being August 25 - 28. 

Here are the winning photographs that seek to inspire travellers to take advantage of the parks' stunning landscapes.

Grand Prize Winner: First place of $10,000 (£6,922) was awarded to Yang Lu for this sunset shot at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah

Grand Prize Winner: First place of $10,000 (£6,922) was awarded to Yang Lu for this sunset shot at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah

Second Place Winner: This picture of Big Horn sheep was taken by Koustubh Kulkarni on the 49 Palms trail at Joshua Tree National Park, with the setting sun casting beautiful hues of orange, yellow, pink and blue over the flock

Second Place Winner: This picture of Big Horn sheep was taken by Koustubh Kulkarni on the 49 Palms trail at Joshua Tree National Park, with the setting sun casting beautiful hues of orange, yellow, pink and blue over the flock

Fan Favourite Winner: Matthew Sorum submitted this image of a large bison grazing in Yellowstone National Park. It was highly commended

Fan Favourite Winner: Matthew Sorum submitted this image of a large bison grazing in Yellowstone National Park. It was highly commended

Scenic, Seasons & Landscapes Winner: An image of hoodoos - thin spires of rock - in the Ah-she-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area

Scenic, Seasons & Landscapes Winner: An image of hoodoos - thin spires of rock - in the Ah-she-sle-pah Wilderness Study Area

This image was the Adventure Winner of a kayaker coming under an arch in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Two kids relaxing at Maho Bay in Virgin Islands National Park which was the Every Kid in a Park Winner

These submissions of people enjoying the national parks both won awards in the contest. Pictured left is the Adventure Winner, of a kayaker coming under an arch in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Pictured right are two kids relaxing at Maho Bay in Virgin Islands National Park, which was the Every Kid in a Park Winner

Night Skies Winner: This captivating image by Erik Fremstad was taken in the Badlands National Park and shows the rocky landscape illuminated by the Milky Way

Night Skies Winner: This captivating image by Erik Fremstad was taken in the Badlands National Park and shows the rocky landscape illuminated by the Milky Way

Wildlife Winner: While many of the images focused on the vastness of the parks, this close-up image of two iron cross blister beetles at Saguaro National Park took the wildlife prize

Wildlife Winner: While many of the images focused on the vastness of the parks, this close-up image of two iron cross blister beetles at Saguaro National Park took the wildlife prize

Fan Favourite Winner: Another popular image was this stark picture of Mt. Whitney in Inyo National Forest. It was taken by Heather Martin, who had attempted Whitney summit over the Memorial Day weekend, but due to heavy snow was unable to complete the trip

Fan Favourite Winner: Another popular image was this stark picture of Mt. Whitney in Inyo National Forest. It was taken by Heather Martin, who had attempted Whitney summit over the Memorial Day weekend, but due to heavy snow was unable to complete the trip

Historical & Cultural Winner: David Regala, who took this picture on the Cedar Mesa plateau, said that 'during a single season, and at a particular time of day, refracted sunlight funnels into this Anasazi alcove conjuring an ephemeral glow'

Historical & Cultural Winner: David Regala, who took this picture on the Cedar Mesa plateau, said that 'during a single season, and at a particular time of day, refracted sunlight funnels into this Anasazi alcove conjuring an ephemeral glow'

Third Place Winner: This image of Death Valley National Park was taken on Sarah Gustafson's first visit to the area. She said she had never understood how big the formations were and jumped into the frame to provide some scale for the picture

Third Place Winner: This image of Death Valley National Park was taken on Sarah Gustafson's first visit to the area. She said she had never understood how big the formations were and jumped into the frame to provide some scale for the picture

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