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Our Mission

To preserve the beauty and biodiversity of the earth and to provide programs so that children may know the wonder and joy of nature.
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The Preserve System

Our growing preserve system safeguards forests, deserts, mountains, rivers, and coastlines through permanent land conservation and active stewardship.
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Conservation Projects

Beyond our preserves, we lead and support conservation initiatives that protect connected landscapes, wildlife corridors, rivers, and public lands.
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Land Acquisition Projects

Explore our current land acquisition projects and learn how you can help conserve land for future generations.
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Rewilding Nature

Across the West, rivers have been dammed and diverted, wildlife corridors severed, and native species pushed to the brink. Explore our work to restore wildness and ecological balance.
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Visit a Preserve

Our preserve system welcomes more than 1.5 million visitors each year to protected forests, deserts, mountains, rivers, wetlands, and coastlines across California and Utah, with preserves and programs open to the public free of charge.
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Community Programs & Events

From guided hikes to photography workshops to summer activities for kids, The Wildlands Conservancy's free community programs & events offer something for everyone.
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School Field Trips

Free field-trip programs give students hands-on outdoor learning experiences that foster curiosity, scientific discovery, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
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About The Wildlands Conservancy

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About Us

Our Core Principles & Beliefs

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Meet Our Team

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Career Opportunities

Join the Wildlands team.
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Our Financials

The financial information provided here is derived from our audited financial statements.
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Rana Creek Preserve

With its iconic California oak woodland landscape, a journey through Rana Creek Preserve is like going back in time before highway traffic, strip malls, and power lines marred coastal California.
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Wind Wolves Preserve

Wind Wolves Preserve is in an ecologically unique region where the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert and San Joaquin Valley influences converge.
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Mission Creek Preserve

Located in a transition zone between the Sonoran and Mojave deserts, the 4,760-acre Mission Creek Preserve has a rich species composition with flora and fauna representing both deserts.
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Pioneertown Mountains Preserve

The 25,500-acre Pioneertown Mountains Preserve descends from the high piney 7,800-foot ridges into the Pioneertown Valley.
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Whitewater Preserve

Whitewater Preserve is 2,246 acres surrounded by the Bureau of Land Management’s San Gorgonio Wilderness and includes the year-round Whitewater River.
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Two Rivers Preserve

Two Rivers Preserve is an awe-inspiring landscape within an ancient volcanic caldera full of glacial moraines, river-carved canyons, mountain meadows, and grand vistas of the Sierra Nevada and Sweetwater Mountains.
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West Walker River Preserve

Situated in the Antelope Valley farming community, just off highway 395 in the Eastern Serra town of Coleville
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Eel River Canyon Preserve

Given its location along the Grand Canyon of the Eel river, where the National Wild and Scenic Eel River carves its way through a deep and wild gorge
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Emerald Waters Reserve

The 3,036-acre Emerald Waters Reserve is split between Humboldt and Trinity Counties and fronts on the Eel River for 4.5 miles.
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Spyrock Reserve

The 5,832-acre Spyrock Reserve has five miles of frontage on the National Wild and Scenic Eel River in Mendocino County.
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Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve

The 6,094-acre Beaver Valley Headwaters Preserve in Siskiyou County protects two-and-a-half miles of the East Fork Scott River, providing habitats for Coho salmon, king salmon, and steelhead trout.
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Eel River Estuary Preserve & Sounding Seas Dunes Reserve

The southern estuary of the Eel River in Humboldt County contains a diverse array of habitats and a grand arena of life
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Seawood Cape Preserve

Seawood Cape encompasses 128 acres including almost a mile of California’s world famous rugged rocky coastline that is replete with barking sea lions and basking harbor seals.
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Bearpaw Reserve

Bearpaw Reserve is 600 acres of steep, spectacular mountains with a seasonal 110-foot waterfall. Vegetation includes incense cedars, ponderosa and coulter pine, chaparral, and oracle oaks.
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Bluff Lake Reserve

Located at 7,600 feet, Bluff Lake Reserve has towering pines, a 20-acre lake, a meadow, and majestic outcrops of quartz monzonite.
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Galena Peak Wilderness Reserve

In 2018, The Wildlands Conservancy separated the 1,280-acre Galena Ridge from its Oak Glen Preserve, positioning this rugged rocky landscape to be managed like the adjoining San Gorgonio Wilderness.
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Oak Glen Preserve

Nestled in a glen, situated at 5,024 feet, in the shadow of 8,700-foot Wilshire Peak, lies The Wildlands Conservancy’s 909-acre Oak Glen Preserve.
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Estero Americano Coast Preserve

Acquired by The Wildlands Conservancy in 2015 through a visionary public-private partnership—including the State Coastal Conservancy, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Sonoma Land Trust, and individual donors.
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Jenner Headlands Preserve

Jenner Headlands is a spectacular 5,630-acre mosaic of redwood and Douglas-fir forests, oak woodland, chaparral and coastal prairie overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
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Mariposa Reserve

The 800-acre Mariposa Reserve is a habitat reserve surrounded by the Cleveland National Forest. It represents the best grassland and sycamore savanna in the north end of the forest.
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Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve

In 2018, The Wildlands Conservancy acquired five miles of the oak- and sycamore-shaded Santa Margarita River, one of the last free-flowing wild rivers in Southern California and the southernmost range of steelhead trout.
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Enchanted Rocks Preserve

Thousand-foot-high cliffs splashed with orange, white, purple, and red tower above the John Day River as it winds through iconic landscapes graced with western junipers, herds of Rocky Mountain elk, and the verdant canyons of its many tributaries.
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Speaking Springs Preserve

Cottonwood Wash carves an ancient, 42-mile pathway from the towering Abajo Mountains to the historic San Juan River.
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Explore the Preserve System Map

Use our interactive map to plan your next preserve visit.
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Donate

All the Ways to Give

Since 1995, the generosity of The Wildlands Conservancy’s supporters has enabled us to call people back to the beauty, wonder, and inspiration of the natural world through outdoor education and the stewardship of some of California’s most remarkable and important landscapes.
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Volunteer

Whether your passion is restoration or outdoor education, or you have a day to spare or a few hours a week, there’s a volunteer opportunity available for you to get involved and make a difference not just at your favorite preserve, but in your community.
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Get News & Stories

From land acquisitions to rewilding projects to a child's first time in the wild — we share the work when there's something worth sharing. Join the Mailing List to get updates.
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Career Opportunities

Looking to join our team? Explore current opportunities with The Wildlands Conservancy.
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Volunteer Opportunities

Events

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Today

  • Volunteer Day: Backcountry Bakersfield Cactus Monitoring

    Volunteer Day: Backcountry Bakersfield Cactus Monitoring

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves Staff as we collect data and monitor the growth and health of our growing endangered Bakersfield cactus populations at the Preserve. Recommended for ages 16 and up. Reservations are required. […]

  • Volunteer Day: Plant Watering

    Volunteer Day: Plant Watering

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves staff as we provide water to our newly planted shrubs!

  • Volunteer Day: Watering in Canyon

    Volunteer Day: Watering in Canyon

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves Staff as we provide water to some of our restoration plots to ensure that our native plants survive the rising temperatures of summer. Reservations are required and space […]

  • Volunteer Day: HARDCORE Trail Maintenance

    Volunteer Day: HARDCORE Trail Maintenance

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves Rangers as we perform HARDCORE trail maintenance. Must be able to lift 20+ pounds and be prepared for strenuous work! Recommended for ages 16 and up. Reservations are required. Space is […]

  • Kids

    Volunteer Stewardship Day

    Location: Oak Glen Preserve

    Volunteer Stewardship is a rewarding experience that involves taking an active role in helping to protect and preserve our natural environment. By volunteering to help with projects such as botanic garden maintenance, habitat restoration, and other […]

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    Volunteer Stewardship Day

    Location: Jenner Headlands Preserve

    Team up with our Trailhead Stewards and create more Beauty at JHP! This is a recurring event: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month.

  • Workers

    Volunteer Day: HARDCORE Trail Maintenance

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves Rangers as we perform HARDCORE trail maintenance. Must be able to lift 20+ pounds and be prepared for strenuous work! Recommended for ages 16 and up. Reservations are required. Space is […]

  • Walking

    Volunteer Day: Backcountry Bakersfield Cactus Monitoring

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves Staff as we collect data and monitor the growth and health of our growing endangered Bakersfield cactus populations at the Preserve. Recommended for ages 16 and up. Reservations are required. […]

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    Volunteer Day: Backcountry Watering

    Location: Wind Wolves Preserve

    Join Wind Wolves Staff as we provide water to our backcountry restoration plots to ensure our native plants survive the rising temperatures of summer. Reservations are required and space is limited.  […]