The Forgotten Lands Project inspires deeper connection to the overlooked public lands of the American West through immersive written and visual storytelling, keynote talks, and guided camping experiences.

the enduring wild

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.

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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

Dispatches from across the American West

Newsletter
Newsletter

WRITER / PHOTOGRAPHER / GUIDE / SPEAKER

Joshua Jackson is a writer and photographer whose work explores the overlooked public lands of the American west.

His work has appeared in The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, High Country News, SFGATE, and Adventure Journal, among others. He has also been a featured guest on numerous podcasts exploring nature, science, and conservation. His first book, The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California’s Public Lands (Heyday, 2025), winner of the Golden Poppy Award and a Foreword INDIES finalist, is both a love letter to these landscapes and a meditation on belonging and reciprocity.

As founder of the Forgotten Lands Project, Josh gives keynote talks on public lands and place attachment, engages in storytelling collaborations with conservation organizations, and guides camping trips with the USAL Project that connect people directly to these fragile and inspiring landscapes.

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

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

  • The Guardian: 5/5/26

    Every winter, tens of thousands of Americans migrate to public lands in the Arizona desert. For a growing number, it's not a vacation—it’s the only housing they can afford. The Desert Safety Net.

  • LA Times: 4/7/26

    Part 2 in a series of essays for the LA Times, exploring the forgotten highways of California and the public lands they run through. State Route 78.

  • LA Times: 2/5/26

    Part 1 in a series of essays for the LA Times, exploring the forgotten highways of California and the public lands they run through. Highway 127.

  • High Country News: 10/10/25

    An ode to the beauty and diversity of Chuckwalla National Monument. The Case For Monuments.