Each winter, Minnesotans do what we do best: step outside, look closer, and find beauty in the cold. From wind-sculpted snowdrifts to glowing sunrises and fleeting moments of wildlife and wonder, our readers’ photographs capture a season rich with texture, emotion, and quiet joy. These winning images are a reminder that beyond the frost-covered windows and extra layers, winter is alive—and often breathtaking—just outside the warm glow of home.
Jeff Schad took this shot of the aurora borealis over Bde Maka Ska in Minneapolis.Joan Jeska captures the quiet beauty of a winter walk in Grand Portage State Park.Jim Stripe took this snapshot of Team North Dakota carving “The Solace of Sheep” at the 2024 Stillwater World Snow Sculpting Championship.Dennis Chick photographs his 6-year-old grandson skating on Gunflint Trail lake ice, a young Minnesota Wild fan honing his moves.Snow falls along the Duluth shore in this scene by Anona Maya, capturing the quiet power of winter.Lisa Diehl Foreman documents the quiet pause of the winter solstice on Sturgeon Lake.Maxwell the Goldendoodle takes in the scenery at Mississippi River County Park, captured by Eric Mead.Kathryn Meier’s lens brings a snow-kissed Ham Lake pine to life, set against a quiet, wintry backdrop of soft whites and fresh snowfall.John Steitz captures an especially vibrant February sunset from Shovel Point in Tettegouche State Park, where winter light ignites the horizon in striking color.Hayes Scriven shows how few places capture winter on Lake Superior like Hollow Rock, where just the right mix of snow and ice turns this Grand Portage landmark into a perfect seasonal composition.A trek behind frozen Minnehaha Falls rewarded CJ Gronner with an unexpected world of blue ice and serene, majestic stillness.In the St. Croix River Valley, Doug Cottrell captures two “Heavenly Angels” gliding past in the warm January light.Skyler, a 16-year-old Shepherd mix, steps in from a snowstorm in this photo by Michael Kanu Ferranti.Walt Huss frames a striking scene at Lax Lake, where skaters glide beneath the imposing forested bluffs near Finland, Minnesota.Jacob Schlichter, a southern Minnesota astrophotographer, captures the November 2025 northern lights glowing in brilliant pinks, reds, teals, and greens.Lowell Wolff frames a stunning winter sunset over Lake Superior near Grand Marais.Doug Andrus’ photo shows a frozen overhang along the Croftville shore of Lake Superior, complete with two seagulls perched in the cold.In Afton State Park, silver and gold jingle bells contrast playfully with cockleburs in this photo by Loriene Pearson.A blue jay sits amid hoarfrosted branches in this winter scene from Spring Creek Township, photographed by Kristin Hassel.Michael Anderson captures an aerial view of Minneapolis’ iconic Witch’s Hat Tower in Prospect Park after a fresh December snowfall.
