13th Edition: Discover Colorado Springs Photo Contest
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department will begin accepting photo submissions for its Discover Colorado Springs 2026 calendar starting Tuesday, July 15. This is the thirteenth edition of the annual calendar which highlights the natural beauty of parks, trails and open spaces in Colorado Springs.
All submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. Photos can be submitted by emailing calendar@coloradosprings.gov (link sends e-mail), or they can be dropped off or mailed to 1401 Recreation Way. Winning submissions will be announced in early October and awards will be presented to the selected photographers. Following the announcement, calendars will be printed and made available for a suggested donation. All proceeds will help support reforestation of the former Synder Quarry.

2026 Discover COS Calendar Theme
Rooted in the Outdoors
The 2026 Discover Colorado Calendar celebrates the essential role that open spaces play in the life of Colorado Springs. These natural landscapes offer opportunities to connect with the land, experience solitude, observe wildlife and enjoy the city’s most scenic and ecologically significant landscapes.
This year’s theme, “Rooted in the Outdoors,” celebrates the value of these spaces—where conservation, quiet recreation, and natural beauty come together.
We invite photographers to take part by capturing images that reflect:
- How open spaces are experienced and valued today.
- The connections between people and the land in these natural areas.
- The balance of access, beauty, and care across the City’s Open Space system.
Click below to view a list of Open Spaces in the City of Colorado Springs
Selected photos will showcase the unique character of Colorado Springs’ Open Spaces, from expansive views and rugged terrain to quiet moments and personal experiences in nature. Through your lens, help us capture what it means to be rooted in the outdoors—grounded in nature, community, and shared responsibility.
2026 Calendar Proceeds:
Proceeds from the 2026 calendar will support tree planting at Synder Quarry in Black Canyon Open Space, a new 163-acre ecological site managed by the City of Colorado Springs. This effort will help support the reforestation of the former Snyder Quarry, currently undergoing reclamation to establish native habitat contributing to a healthier, more resilient landscape for generations to come.
Restrictions and Guidelines:
Restrictions and Guidelines:
- Photos must be submitted by the photographer, who must be the owner of the submitted photo and have full exclusive rights to their submitted image.
- The photographer of the selected image(s) will grant the City of Colorado Springs and the Parks Department limited non-exclusive rights to the photo for use in the calendar (for which credit may be given to the photographer at the discretion of the City) and for use in promotions for the City. All submitted pictures must be accompanied by a signed waiver allowing this use.
- Photo submissions from amateur and professional photographers are welcome.
- Any person who is identifiable within the picture(s) must sign the individual identified in Photograph waiver. Signature from unidentifiable individuals is not required. A guardian must sign for any child under the age of 18. All submitted pictures must be accompanied by a signed waiver of the subject to be eligible for the contest.
- All images must be of property owned or managed by the City of Colorado Springs Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services.
- Park rules must be adhered to when taking the “perfect shot”, including, but not limited to, staying on designated trails and pet leash requirements.
- Limit of 5 photos submitted per photographer.
- All photographs must be of landscape orientation. They must also be standard landscape dimensions. If a pre-cropped picture is submitted, the Parks Department may be required to make additional crops to get the picture to fit in the correct format.
- The Parks Department is not responsible for any picture that did not make the submission deadline due to undeliverable spam emails, loss through postal carriers, or cyberspace malfunctions.
- If you are taking pictures of a sanctioned event, you may need to obtain approval from the event organizer.
- Jury will be selecting winning photographs based on the provided artist prompt.
Photography Submission Requirements:
- Photos can be submitted via:
- Email at calendar@coloradosprings.gov
- Dropped off or mailed to the Parks and Recreation Headquarters Office:
Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
c/o April Allen
1401 Recreation Way
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905
- In the body of the email or submission please include:
- Name of Photographer
- Contact information
- Property or facility where picture was taken
- The month in which the picture was taken
- Please use the format below to name your photo:
- Format: Last name – location(photo submission #)
Sample: Smith – BlodgettOpenSpace (1); Smith – AustinBluffsOpenSpace(2)
- Format: Last name – location(photo submission #)
- Waiver: Permission to Use Photograph and individual Identified in Photograph must be signed and attached.
- Size of submitted picture:
- All Pictures must be submitted digitally (either via email or delivered on CD/thumb drive – submitted material will not be returned)
- Pictures should be no smaller than 300 dpi.
- Cell phone pictures often do not meet these requirements. Please verify your cell phone picture is a minimum of 300 dpi before it is submitted.
- Pixels per inch
Print size | 125 pixels per inch | 180 pixels per inch | 300 pixels per inch |
---|---|---|---|
8.5 x 11 | 1063 x 1375 | 1530 x 1980 | 2550 x 3300 |
Deadline & Award Winners
- Deadline for Photo Submissions:
- Photos must be delivered / emailed to the Parks Department by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025. Pictures received after this day will not be accepted. Please plan accordingly if you are mailing your pictures.
- Awards will be presented to the selected photographers. Additional information will be available mid-September.