2024 Go California Photo Contest winners

By: DogTrekker Staff

A vibrant dog park bathed in sunlight features abundant greenery with mature trees, offering ample shade for leisurely outdoor activities. In the distance is a well-equipped playground that presents an additional activity area. An inviting picnic table spreads out nearby, ideal for enjoying meals al fresco or taking relaxing breaks from play. A neatly-placed trash bin aids in maintaining the park's cleanliness for everyone's enjoyment. Dominating the scene is a generously wide dirt path gracefully curving through the expanse of grass, promising exploratory walks and lively fetch games.

Best of Show Winner: Biscuit and Maddie waving from Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park. Photo by Ivy Chen.

Hundreds of you entered DogTrekker’s 2024 Go California Photo Contest, and thousands voted for images of four-legged travel influencers enjoying lakes, beaches, parks and trails across the Golden State. This annual competition spotlights the very good boys and girls who inspire us all to get out and explore. And as 2024 winds down, it’s the perfect time to start dreaming about next year’s adventures.

Thanks to everyone who took part in this year’s competition – with special appreciation going out to the pups who put their best paw forward in these photos. And now, we’re excited to present the 2024 Go California Dog Photo Contest winners!

Your pups tell amazing California stories, and Team DogTrekker had a tough time picking our favorite. We spent hours marveling at dogs swimming, playing in snow, chasing balls, climbing mountains, surfing, running on beaches, basking in fall color, strolling through vineyards, exploring the desert and more.

Best of Show

Two Pomeranians waving in front of Yosemite. Photo by Ivy Chen. — Best of Show Winner: Biscuit & Maddie waving from Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park. Photo by Ivy Chen.

Our top choice was a wonderful photo of two very cute Pomeranians – Biscuit and Maddie – waving from Glacier Point in Yosemite National Park. They are perfectly framed, with Half Dome in the background. The shot has great colors, composition and sense of place, too. Thanks to grand prize winner Ivy Chen for sharing this photo.

Grand Prize: Voters Choice

DogTrekker readers also had difficult choices to make, with fantastic photos of pups soaking up the sunshine on the Bay Trail, spending time on the Russian River, walking around Oakland’s Lake Merritt, and trotting along the Sacramento River in Old Sacramento.

The highest vote count went to Samurai, who enjoyed his first ride in a sidecar in Carmel. He’s donning cool shades, and the deep blue Monterey Bay sparkles in the background. Thanks to grand prize winner Michelle Chu for submitting this photo.

Samurai dog in a sidecar — Samurai enjoying his first ride in a sidecar in Carmel. Photo by Michelle Chu.

Runners Up

Plenty of other photos caught the eye of DogTrekker readers and judges! From a walk in the desert, to splashing in a lake, to playing on the beach and more, we loved seeing so many wonderful photos of your dogs.