California State Parks Launches Second Annual ‘Share Your Space' Photo Contest
Contact: Newsroom@parks.ca.gov
Grand prize winning photos from inaugural photo contest last fall.
SACRAMENTO — California State Parks is inviting visitors to the nation’s largest and most diverse state park system this summer to “share your space” by entering the 2026 Photo Contest. Starting today through Aug. 1, Californians can submit their top pictures from any of the 280 state parks for a chance to win special prizes.
New this year, the photo contest will be hosted on the California State Parks app powered by OuterSpatial, allowing users to access detailed park information and maps while participating in the contest.
“The beauty, history and recreational opportunities of California’s state parks rival anywhere in the world, and I can’t wait to see the amazing photos visitors capture when they’re out making memories in these special places,” said Marty Greenstein, Deputy Director for Communications and Marketing at California State Parks. “Whether you’re soaking up the sun at the beach, hiking through the redwoods, boating on a lake or immersing yourself in California history, I invite you to share your space by entering our photo contest on OuterSpatial.”
After receiving many quality submissions in the inaugural contest last fall, the second annual contest is launching at the height of the summer visitation season – just in time for the fifth annual California State Parks Week – and is sure to produce even more stunning images.
After logging onto the OuterSpatial app, participants can submit one photo in each of the following categories:
- Heroes and Helpers
- Landscape and Legacy
- Living Wonders
- A Space for All
- A Wild Ride
The contest is sponsored by Tyler Technologies, management provider for ReserveCalifornia, California State Parks’ official reservation service. Prizes will be awarded to the top entry in each category as well as one People’s Choice selection in each category that OuterSpatial users can join in the voting.
Winners will be notified in October 2026. For more information, including FAQs and contest rules, visit outerspatial.com/challenges/287.
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California State Parks provides for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high quality outdoor recreation.