2026 Photo Competition

Welcome to the Treasures of the Gold Belt Byway 2026 Photo Competition! Visitors and residents of communities along the Gold Belt Scenic and Historic Byway are invited to submit their favorite photos for a chance to win fantastic prizes — including a professionally mounted canvas print of your photo.

The byway stretches 131 miles through five communities and two counties, highlighting four main roads: Shelf, Phantom Canyon, High Park, and Teller One. This year, 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?

Rules & Regulations

The rules are simple, and entering is easy! Start by snapping photos and enter your favorite image(s) taken along the Gold Belt Byway. There will be a $5.00 charge per entry.

• You must be 18 years or older to enter. Those under 18 must have a parent or guardian complete the entry on their behalf.
• A valid entry form must be completed with your submission.
• Up to 4 photos per person may be submitted. Photos may be from up to one year ago.
• Photos should be submitted in JPEG format, however PNG will be accepted.
• All photos must be taken along the Gold Belt Byway.
• AI generated or edited submissions are not allowed. All photos must be original artwork taken by your camera with minimal editing.

Submit Your Photos

Dates & Deadlines

• Submissions Open: March 1, 2026
• Submissions Close: June 1, 2026
• Winners Notified: June 12, 2026
• Winners Announced: July 3, 2026 — Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States

Themes

In addition to an Overall Grand Prize winner, one winner will be selected from each of the four categories below. Show us what the Gold Belt Byway means to you!

Cultural Heritage
From dinosaurs to gold mines and world-famous rock climbing, the Gold Belt Byway offers a trip back through time. Capture the essence of cultural heritage along the byway — food, customs, history, and traditions. Examples include local business favorites, mining sites, museum exhibitions, historic buildings, or rock climbers.

Beautification
Celebrate regenerative tourism by showing how visitors can leave their destination better than they found it. Capture pristine natural trails, landscapes, cleanup efforts, or the regeneration of over-loved sites. The Gold Belt Byway is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in Colorado — help us keep it that way.

Conservation
Conservation along the Gold Belt Byway tells a story of how tourists can act responsibly to protect the land and communities that residents call home. Show us what conservation looks like to you — camping sites, viewsheds, wild animals, or even your favorite locally sourced meal.

Recreation
Recreation is one of the primary lifelines of tourism along the byway. Hiking, biking, camping, rafting, fishing, climbing, and more are available year-round. Capture the spirit of outdoor adventure — bonus points for opposite-season recreation that tells the story of the Gold Belt Byway's year-round appeal.

Winning photos will be featured on the Gold Belt Byway website, social media channels, and brochures. The winning photo will also be professionally mounted and displayed at various businesses and sites along the byway.

Prize Packages

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

• 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 confirmed so far include a stay at Holiday Inn Express in Cañon City, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park tickets and swag, food coupons from businesses along the byway, a custom T-shirt donated by DARE Print & Sign Co. in Cañon City, gas money from the Byway Association, and more donations coming in from the byway community. We expect all packages to exceed the minimum values listed above!

Copyright & Legality

By submitting an image, you confirm that you are the owner and copyright holder of the photograph and that it is your original work. If your photo contains identifiable people or private property, you confirm you have obtained the necessary permissions. Photographers retain copyright to their photographs; however, by entering the contest, you permit unrestricted usage by the Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway to promote the area, without compensation. This applies to both winning and non-winning entries.

Submit Your Photos