Pete McBride
Pete McBride is a National Geographic photographer and filmmaker who documents wild places and fresh water to inspire a sustainable future.
Master Storyteller
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Thru-Hiker
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Naturekeeper
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Master Storyteller • Thru-Hiker • Naturekeeper •
More about Pete
Pete McBride is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, writer, and speaker known for his powerful storytelling at the intersection of adventure and environmental conservation. Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Pete has spent over 20 years capturing the planet’s most awe-inspiring landscapes and natural wonders from Everest and Antarctica to relocating African elephants and swimming with orca in the Arctic.
A National Geographic Explorer, Adventurer of the Year, and Sony Artisan of Imagery, McBride has worked in more than 75 countries, combining his skills in photojournalism and filmmaking to spotlight pressing environmental issues, particularly those involving water scarcity, public land protection, and climate change.
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His 750-mile trek through the length of the Grand Canyon became the basis for the Emmy-nominated documentary Into the Canyon and his celebrated book The Grand Canyon: Between River and Rim, which won a national outdoor book award.
His more recent books, Seeing Silence, and Chasing Water, also won national book awards and in 2025 he was given The Ansel Adams Award for a lifetime achievement in conservation photography. His latest book Witness to Water, was released in March 2026.
Pete’s photography and writing have appeared in National Geographic, Outside, Smithsonian Magazine, and The New York Times, among others. He is a frequent speaker at corporate conferences, universities, performing art centers and more.
Speaking Topics
Resilience
Conservation
Science
Exploration
Adventure
Nature
Watch Pete in action
Presentations
A Walk in the Park
What began as an off-trail adventure became the ultimate Grand Canyon expedition. Over 100 days and 750 miles, Pete McBride and Kevin Fedarko traversed slot canyons, cactus gardens, snowfields, and star-filled skies. Their epic journey revealed the canyon’s breathtaking beauty and pressing challenges, offering fresh insight into the health, challenges, future, and enduring wonder of one of America’s greatest natural treasures.
(Presented with Changemaker Kevin Fedarko)
Witness to Water: Defending the Colorado River
America’s western water crisis has global stakes, and the Colorado River is at risk. Acclaimed photographer Pete McBride has spent two decades documenting his backyard river from source to sea. Through breathtaking images and stories of the people who depend on it, he reveals a river strained by overuse and climate change—but resilient, vital, and worth saving.
"Each new proposal and story has come with as many challenges and hurdles as that first adventure; a key component is persistence."
– Pete McBride