OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY -- People in the Inland Northwest are sitting pretty for participation in a photography contest associated with the 50th anniversary of the National Natural Landmarks Program.

Steptoe Butte is among the closest national natural landmarks to Spokane, but many other photogenic sites are available within a day's drive.

Click here to see winning photos from last year's contest, which are featured on the Landmarks Program's 2012 calendar.

So far, the country has recongized 591 national landmarks representing an array of natural features, including dinosaur tracks and fossils at the Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas, Colo., and  bioluminescent waters at Puerto Mosquito, Puerto Rico. Travel to Arizona to see the national landmark highlighting the largest impact crater known in the United States at Barringer Meteor Crater.

National natural landmarks include features on private, state, municipal, and federal lands. Program participation is voluntary and not all landmark sites are open to the public.