Western Outdoor Times - Times Spent Outdoors: Priceless!

Instead of spending the winter months camped inside, explore some of Arizona's most beautiful spaces by visiting a state park and enjoying all the amazing wintertime activities available. Make memories and take pictures, and share your photos for a chance to win major prizes!

Arizona State Parks and Trails encourages you to Opt Outside and submit photos between November 24, 2023, and January 15, 2024 at midnight. Each contestant may submit up to five entries and may be entered in multiple categories. Winners will be announced in February 2024. The categories are -

• Living creatures, spotlighting Arizona plants, animals, and insects,

• Friendly faces, featuring visitors enjoying the parks,

• Outdoor activities, showcasing the many recreational activities available in the parks, like kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, etc.,

• Landscapes, exhibiting the dramatic views from within the state parks,

• Arizona history, illustrating our state's rich cultural resources and storied past.

This photo contest is open to all nature lovers over age 18 who visit and take photos in one of our amazing state parks.

Each category will have a first, second, and third place winner. A grand prize winner will be selected for the contest overall, and will receive an exciting package any outdoor enthusiast will love. The grand prize package includes a two-night stay in a Pin Drop micro-camper at Dead Horse Ranch State Park, an Arizona State Parks annual pass, a cave tour at Kartchner Caverns State Park for two, an REI gift card for $15, and an AppreciateAZ gift box.

First-place winners in each category will receive an Arizona State Parks annual pass, second-place winners will receive two day-use passes, and third-place winners will receive one day-use pass. All winners will also receive a limited-edition Arizona State Parks and Trails sticker and AppreciateAZ water bottle. Honorable mention may also be given to photos of particular merit.

Entries will be judged anonymously on creativity, uniqueness, clarity/composition, and effectiveness in conveying a story within a state park. The contest judges include Arizona State Parks and Trails staff; Tim Elinski, mayor of the city of Cottonwood and co-owner of Pin Drop Travel Trailers; and Lauren and Owen Steinwall of the popular Arizona adventure social media account, The AZ Hikeaholics. Visit https://azstateparks.com/opt-outside-photo-contest? to learn more about our contest judges and listen to our recent podcast episode where we dive deeper into the prize packages and interview Arizona State Parks and Trails' staff photographer to get tips and tricks on taking great pictures in the parks!