Treasures of the Goldbelt Byway

2026 Photo Competition

2026-03-01 Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway

Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway is excited to announce the return of our Photo Contest! In 2026, we are celebrating two incredible milestones — the 250th birthday of the United States on July 4th and Colorado's 150th anniversary on August 1st. What better way to honor these occasions than through the lens of the Gold Belt Tour?

The byway stretches 131 miles through five communities and two counties, highlighting four main roads: Shelf, Phantom Canyon, High Park, and Teller One. A non-profit association coordinates the educational, conservation, preservation, and promotion of this remarkable region — and we are proud to once again sponsor a Gold Belt Tour Photo Contest.

Contest Details

Rules and submission guidelines are being finalized and will be posted soon. The final photo exhibition is planned to coincide with the July 4th celebration of America's 250th birthday, with a possible second exhibit on August 1st in honor of Colorado's 150th year of statehood. Stay tuned for updates! Submit your photo entries to info@goldbeltbyway.com by clicking below

Submit Your Photos

Prize Packages

We are thrilled to offer prize packages that will send our winners exploring the byway and the incredible businesses and attractions along the way:

Overall Winner: A prize package including a one-night hotel stay, meal certificates, attraction admissions, and gas money — valued at $500 or more
Category Winners: A prize package including a hotel stay, meal certificates, attraction admissions, and gas money — valued at $250 or more
Viewers' Choice: A prize package valued at $200 or more

Prizes already confirmed include Royal Gorge Bridge and Park tickets and meals in Cripple Creek — with more donations coming from the byway community. We expect all packages to exceed the minimum values listed above!

Special Thanks

A heartfelt thank you to the businesses and community members along the Gold Belt Tour who make this contest possible through their generous prize donations. We are proud to celebrate this region together.

Thank you to DARE Print & Sign Co. in Cañon City for their continued support, and to Sagentic Web Design for bringing the contest to life online.

Thanks To Our Members & Sponsors

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500 Volunteers Repair Phantom Canyon

After severe floods damaged Phantom Canyon Road in 1921, the Florence Chamber of Commerce recruited about 500 local volunteers to repair the highway. An iconic photo at Liberty Rock shows dozens of workers surrounding a sign reading "Florence Phantom Canyon Put 'Er Thru."

Dinosaur Bone Wars

Garden Park along Shelf Road was a major battleground in the famous "Bone Wars" between rival paleontologists O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope in the 1870s. Fossils discovered here include Diplodocus, Stegosaurus, and Allosaurus, with specimens now displayed at the Smithsonian and museums worldwide. The Cleveland-Delfs Quarry later yielded the only mounted Haplocanthosaurus on display in the United States.