The Book

A lyrical and visual exploration of California’s public wilds and the people and species bound to them.

It started with a campsite in the desert and grew into a five-year pilgrimage across the most overlooked wilderness in the West. The Enduring Wild blends travelogue, natural history, and hope into a testament to the land that belongs to us all.

For the adventurers, campers, explorers, map readers, road trippers, nature enthusiasts, and public lands lovers out there, The Enduring Wild is an indispensable invitation to know these places more deeply and to embrace our common inheritance.

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“Spectacular…striking…a breathtaking tribute…” — Foreword

“A clarion call…” — LA Times

“A beautiful book, incredibly timely…” — Alta Journal

“A call to adventure...” — Kirkus

"The Enduring Wild is a call to look beyond the surface, embrace the deep connections that tie us to our public lands, and commit to safeguarding them for future generations." — QT Luong, author of Treasured Lands

“Josh Jackson lives and breathes these lands. In them, it is clear he has discovered the secret heart of the West, and his approach to sharing it is full of genuine respect, enthusiastic admiration, and a love that shines like a sunrise.”

— OBI KAUFMANN, author of The California Field Atlas

“Footstep by footstep, Josh Jackson gifts a vision of the often unseen ‘leftover lands’ of California and the threats to these precious places. He seeks out, finds, and shares the subtle beauty and meaning that come from a search for understanding and a deep attachment to place. This appreciation of BLM lands invites all to find their way into the wild.”

— McKENZIE LONG, author of This Contested Land: The Storied Past and Uncertain Future of America’s National Monuments

Book cover of "The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California's Public Lands" by Josh Jackson. Features a rocky desert landscape in California with blue sky. Back cover includes testimonials and synopsis emphasizing the exploration of public lands.
Photo of Whitewater Wild and Scenic River with rocky stream, driftwood, and mountains in the background under a blue sky. Accompanying text on environmental preservation and challenges.
Map of Carrizo Plain National Monument with landmarks such as Soda Lake, Painted Rock, and Caliente Mountain. Text discusses a narrative about a visit to the area in late fall 2022, describing the landscapes and weather.
Page from "The Enduring Wild" showing text about plant diversity and a painting of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, featuring rolling hills and a tree.
Landscape photo featuring Cadiz Dunes Wilderness on the left and Alabama Hills National Scenic Area on the right.
Book excerpt discussing public lands managed by the federal government with adjacent image of a natural landscape featuring a creek and hills at Cache Creek Natural Area.

Details

Publisher
Heyday Books

Publish Date
June 24, 2025

Pages
264

Dimensions
7 X 9 inches

Language
English

Type
Paper Over Board

ISBN
978-1-59714-675-3

About the Author

Josh Jackson is a writer and photographer whose work illuminates America’s most overlooked public lands—those managed by the Bureau of Land Management. He weaves storytelling and imagery to reveal the beauty, complexity, and vulnerability of these often misunderstood landscapes.

His work has appeared in High Country News, the Los Angeles Times, Adventure Journal, Longreads, Modern Huntsman, and Backcountry Journal. He has also been a guest on numerous podcasts exploring nature, science, and conservation. His first book, The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California’s Public Lands (Heyday, 2025), is both a love letter to these landscapes and a meditation on belonging and reciprocity.

He lives with his wife and three children in the heart of Los Angeles.