The Wilderness Record was the printed news journal of the California Wilderness Coalition (now known as CalWild), published from the inception of the Coalition in 1976 until 2011, when it was replaced by email newsletters.

Its purpose was to inform concerned citizens all over the state about threats to wildlands and opportunities to preserve them. It encouraged the reader to speak out for wilderness. In the process, it became a chronicle of a crucial 35 years of the wilderness movement in California.

Reading through these publications, it is stunning to see how many times our wild lands came under threat from proposals for logging, mining, highway construction, off-road vehicle abuse, dams, energy development, excessive livestock grazing, massive recreational facilities, and even overuse by backpackers. And it is tremendously encouraging to read how citizens rose up over and over to push back against those threats and preserve our wild lands. This chronicle is an action thriller full of bold ideas, values recognized, setbacks and recoveries, some losses, but a really good ending - 15 million acres of wilderness preserved in California.

This digital archive is intended to be a resource for those interested in the history of wilderness preservation in California, and also a tribute to the late Jim Eaton, a founder of the California Wilderness Coalition and its Executive Director for nearly 20 years. His vision, enthusiasm, and persistence were crucial to the growth of the Coalition to become a leading force in wilderness conservation. He especially believed in the power of communication to organize conservationists. Jim made production of the Wilderness Record a priority and wrote many of the articles himself.

These are scans of original Wilderness Record issues. Right-click on any issue link to download the PDF file.

Each issue linked here is scanned in its entirety and saved as a multi-page PDF file. The files are generally each 2 to 10 megabytes in size, although some are as large as 35 megabytes. Filenames include the volume (vX) and number (nY) of the issue, then the year and month(s) of publication.

This website was created and is maintained by Phil Farrell, a founder and life-long member of the Coalition/Calwild. In almost all cases he made the scans from issues he had received and saved. A few issues missing from his collection were provided by Calwild from its archives. He is still looking for a few missing issues to scan that are listed on this page in red type. As he has time to study each issue, he adds a brief summary of some interesting articles in that issue.

Comments? Questions? Broken links? Email: info@wildernessrecord.com

Last revision April 25, 2026

Wilderness Record Issue Interesting Articles
1976
1976; Mar+Apr; Volume 1 Number 1 Coalition forms; first statewide wild lands inventory and map.
1976; May+Jun; Volume 1 Number 2 Join the Coalition; special supplement on Forest Service planning process.
1976; Jul+Aug; Volume 1 Number 3 Endangered American Wilderness Act; first wilderness workshop; area updates.
1976; Sep+Oct; Volume 1 Number 4 Wilderness legislation roundup; ORV plans roundup; special supplement on Siskiyou Mountains.
1976; Nov+Dec; Volume 1 Number 5 New wilderness bills pass Congress; special supplement on fight to save California desert.
1977
1977; Jan+Feb; Volume 1 Number 6 First year summary; including income chart; $3600 total!
1977; Mar+Apr; Volume 2 Number 1 new local wilderness groups; Mineral King; special supplement on California state-owned lands wilderness program.
1977; May+Jun; Volume 2 Number 2
1977; Jul+Aug; Volume 2 Number 3 Description of Forest Service RARE II program and how to get involved.
1977; Sep+Oct; Volume 2 Number 4 State reveals wilderness plans; RARE II updates.
1977; Nov+Dec; Volume 2 Number 5
1978
1978; Jan+Feb; Volume 3 Number 1
1978; Mar+Apr; Volume 3 Number 2
1978; May+Jun; Volume 3 Number 3
1978; Jul+Aug; Volume 3 Number 4 Results of California State Park wilderness recommendations and RARE II call to action insert.
1978; Sep+Oct; Volume 3 Number 5 Final appeal and info for public to write RARE II comments.
1978; Nov+Dec; Volume 3 Number 6
1979
1979; Jan+Feb; Volume 4 Number 1 RARE II results; "Wilderness Sellout".
1979; Mar+Apr; Volume 4 Number 2 State blasts RARE II; BLM initial wilderness inventory; wilderness wildlife column debuts.
1979; May+Jun; Volume 4 Number 3 Administration opens Forest Service roadless areas to development; BLM wilderness studies.
1979; Jul+Aug; Volume 4 Number 4 BLM Wilderness Review; special supplement on Wilderness and Fisheries.
1979; Sep+Oct; Volume 4 Number 5 RARE II lawsuit; special section on Kern Plateau wilderness.
1979; Nov+Dec; Volume 4 Number 6 RARE II Wilderness legislation; wilderness wildlife: Pronghorn.
1980
1980; Jan+Feb; Volume 5 Number 1 BLM completes state inventory; wilderness wildlife: endangered desert dwellers; Wild Rivers update. Also includes Feb 1980 edition of "Wild California" (jointly published by CWC and The Wilderness Society).
1980; Mar+Apr; Volume 5 Number 2 Special supplement on BLM's first draft of the California Desert Plan.
1980; May+Jun; Volume 5 Number 3 Feature on San Rafael Wilderness; wilderness management: fire; Siskiyou wildlife.
1980; Jul+Aug+Sep+Oct; Volume 5 Number 4+5 Desert plan proposal released; wilderness management: wildlife; descriptions of new wilderness areas proposed in Burton bill.
1980; Nov+Dec; Volume 5 Number 6
1981
1981; Jan+Feb; Volume 6 Number 1 Desert update; feature on Desolation Wilderness; wilderness wildlife: spotted owl.
1981; Mar+Apr; Volume 6 Number 2 (no scan - missing from my collection)
1981; May+Jun; Volume 6 Number 3 updates on wilderness related bills in Congress; wilderness wildlife: bigfoot.
1981; Jul+Aug; Volume 6 Number 4 progress on Burton bill; wilderness wildlife: condor.
1981; Sep+Oct; Volume 6 Number 5 House passes Burton bill and Cranston introduces in Senate; Wild Kern river.
1981; Nov+Dec; Volume 6 Number 6 Oil and gas drilling proposed in wilderness; wilderness wildlife: mountain yellow-legged frog.
1982
1982; Jan+Feb; Volume 7 Number 1 geothermal exploration in wilderness; bighorn sheep.
1982; Mar+Apr; Volume 7 Number 2 Secretary Watt proposals for mining in wilderness; wilderness wildlife: newts.
1982; May+Jun; Volume 7 Number 3 State Wilderness designations; status of BLM wilderness study areas; Forest Service wilderness history from 1931-1981.
1982; Jul+Aug; Volume 7 Number 4 House passes mining ban in Wilderness; wilderness wildlife: roosevelt elk.
1982; Sep+Oct; Volume 7 Number 5 Decision time for state-owned wilderness; wilderness wildlife: pileated woodpecker.
1982; Nov+Dec; Volume 7 Number 6 RARE II lawsuit suceeds; wilderness wildlife feature.
1983
1983; Jan+Feb; Volume 8 Number 1 Forest Service abandons roadless review decisions; Klamath National Forest planning and roadless area descriptions; wilderness wildlife: rattlesnakes.
1983; Mar+Apr; Volume 8 Number 2 Burton's California Wilderness bill that came in response to RARE II passes house; Phillip Burton dies.
1983; May+Jun; Volume 8 Number 3 Pathogens in wilderness water; BLM rejects wilderness proposals in NE California.
1983; Jul+Aug+Sep+Oct; Volume 8 Number 4+5 Federal judge halts BLM plan to develop wilderness study areas; Forest Service begins new roadless review as part of inidividual forest plans; wilderness wildlife: red fox.
1983; Nov+Dec; Volume 8 Number 6 Status of BLM non-desert wilderness study areas; black bears in wilderness.
1984
1984; Jan+Feb; Volume 9 Number 1 Senator Wilson slashes wilderness proposal for California; Lists of Forest Service roadless areas to be studied again.
1984; Mar+Apr; Volume 9 Number 2 Features on King Range; Sinkyone Wilderness; and Ishi Wilderness; mountain lions in wilderness.
1984; May+Jun; Volume 9 Number 3 Senators Cranston and Wilson reach compromise on California Wilderness bill; analysis of BLM wilderness study area program failings.
1984; Jul+Aug; Volume 9 Number 4 Senate passes California Wilderness bill. Some analysis of bill's provisions.
1984; Sep+Oct; Volume 9 Number 5 California Wilderness Act of 1984 is signed. Map; list; and descriptions of new wilderness areas. Analysis of the politics of how it passed.
1984; Nov+Dec; Volume 9 Number 6 Summary of plans to work on protection for national forest areas not in the California Wilderness Act.
1985
1985; Jan+Feb; Volume 10 Number 1 Henry Coe State Park wilderness proposal; Forest Service recreation zoning explained.
1985; Mar+Apr; Volume 10 Number 2 BLM wilderness review nears end; descriptions of some specific CWC proposals for BLM wilderness.
1985; May+Jun; Volume 10 Number 3 New wilderness permit rules; Forest Planning updates for Angeles; San Bernardino; and Toiyabe National Forests; Golden Eagles in the desert.
1985; Jul+Aug; Volume 10 Number 4 Plans for 1985 California Wilderness Conference; feature on Kern River; wilderness wildlife: desert pupfish.
1985; Sep+Oct; Volume 10 Number 5 Full program for the 1985 California Wilderness Conference; destructive activities occurring in supposedly protected wilderness study areas.
1985; Nov+Dec; Volume 10 Number 6 Possible dam would flood Kings River; photos from Wilderness Conference; Planning updates for Stanislaus and Sequoia National Forests.
1986
1986; Jan+Feb; Volume 11 Number 1 Cranston introduces the first draft of the "Desert Bill". Start of the nine year campaign to protect desert wilderness; articles on national forest planning.
1986; Mar+Apr; Volume 11 Number 2 Future of Mono Lake; Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit planning update; Scope of Cranston's desert bill.
1986; May+Jun; Volume 11 Number 3 Support for Kern and Kings wild rivers grows; Planning updates for Lassen and San Bernardino National Forests.
1986; Jul+Aug; Volume 11 Number 4 ORVs in King Range; Shasta-Trinity and Los Padres National Forests plans propose little wilderness; effects of clearcuts on wildlife.
1986; Sep+Oct; Volume 11 Number 5 Mt. Shasta ski area stopped; updates on wild river proposals; Mendocino; Sierra; and Eldorado National Forests planning updates; spotted owls.
1986; Nov+Dec; Volume 11 Number 6 Sinkyone Wilderness park expansion; Inyo National Forest planning update; White-Inyo wilderness complex.
1987
1987; Jan+Feb; Volume 12 Number 1 Cranston re-introduces Desert Protection Act; BLM initiates final phase of wilderness study process.
1987; Mar+Apr; Volume 12 Number 2
1987; May+Jun; Volume 12 Number 3 Lawsuit tries to stop logging in sequoia groves; BLM Cache Creek area; San Joaquin roadless area; grazing on public lands.
1987; Jul+Aug; Volume 12 Number 4 Senate hearings on desert bill; liberate Hetch Hetchy?; wildlands of the Volcanic Tablelands; Glass Mountain area; BLM wilderness recommendations for NE California.
1987; Sep+Oct; Volume 12 Number 5 Problems with Forest Service salvage logging in fire areas; Lassic Mountains wildlands; ecological effects of wild fire.
1987; Nov+Dec; Volume 12 Number 6 Kings; Kern; and Merced Wild Rivers designated; profile of Keep the Sespe Wild member group; wilderness wildlife: great gray owls.
1988
1988; Jan; Volume 13 Number 1 Grant allows paid editor and monthly publication; special on South Warner Wilderness; Modoc National Forest plan released.
1988; Feb; Volume 13 Number 2 Proposed Soda Mountain wilderness; CWC financial report; David Gaines obituary.
1988; Mar; Volume 13 Number 3 Off road vehicles banned and wilderness proposed in King Range; more protections for Cache Creek; Yosemite Wilderness management plan draft.
1988; Apr; Volume 13 Number 4 Sequoia National Forest final plan rejects wilderness; ski area development proposed in eastern Sierra roadless areas; Wilderness permit rules for 1988.
1988; May; Volume 13 Number 5 Problems with Mt Shasta ski area proposal; logging halted in Sequoia groves; Los Padres National Forest final plan proposes little Wilderness; too many roads on National Forests.
1988; Jun; Volume 13 Number 6 Bighorn sheep threatened; Forest Service tightens appeals process; Wild Rivers bill for Los Padres NF; private land acquired in Grouse Lakes roadless area; Sherwin Bowl ski proposal.
1988; Jul; Volume 13 Number 7 Timber salvage threatens roadless areas; old logging road still open through Yolla Bolly Wilderness; San Bernardino Forest revising wilderness plans; wilderness workshop for BLM land; BLM East Mojave plan is deficient; lawsuits on behalf of endangered species.
1988; Aug; Volume 13 Number 8 Desert protection bill fails in Senate; Los Padres NF wilderness bill introduced; grazing impacts in Marble Mtns Wilderness; fighting timber sales in roadless areas; wilderness recreation ethics.
1988; Sep; Volume 13 Number 9 More problems with logging in roadless areas; appeal filed for Sequoia National Forest plan; wilderness water rights diminished; Ventana Wilderness trail guide review.
1988; Oct; Volume 13 Number 10 Logging threats to Middle Fork Feather Wild River; appeal forces more review of June Mtn ski area expansion proposal; new campaign for ancient forests; Inyo Forest Plan appealed; plan for Mt Shasta trail.
1988; Nov; Volume 13 Number 11 Ski area proposals still threaten Mt. Shasta and Mt. Eddy; debate over "let burn" fire policies; private inholdings in Wilderness.
1988; Dec; Volume 13 Number 12 Efforts to stop roadless area logging; private inholdings in Grouse Lakes and Castle Peak roadless areas; Tahoe Basin final Forest Plan still inadequate; Desert Colloquim organizes activists; Court rules for spotted owls.
1989
1989; Jan; Volume 14 Number 1 Klamath National Forest logging compromise; interview with Margaret Murie; book review: Coast Walks.
1989; Feb; Volume 14 Number 2 Eldorado NF plan shortcomings; Cahto Wilderness proposal history; 1988 CWC financial report; National Forest plan appeals for Plumas and Tahoe Basin; more private inholdings may be purchased.
1989; Mar; Volume 14 Number 3
1989; Apr; Volume 14 Number 4
1989; May; Volume 14 Number 5
1989; Jun; Volume 14 Number 6
1989; Jul+Aug; Volume 14 Number 7+8
1989; Sep; Volume 14 Number 9
1989; Oct; Volume 14 Number 10
1989; Nov; Volume 14 Number 11
1989; Dec; Volume 14 Number 12
1990
1990; Jan; Volume 15 Number 1
1990; Feb; Volume 15 Number 2
1990; Mar; Volume 15 Number 3
1990; Apr; Volume 15 Number 4
1990; May; Volume 15 Number 5
1990; Jun; Volume 15 Number 6
1990; Jul; Volume 15 Number 7
1990; Aug; Volume 15 Number 8
1990; Sep; Volume 15 Number 9
1990; Oct; Volume 15 Number 10
1990; Nov; Volume 15 Number 11
1990; Dec; Volume 15 Number 12
1991
1991; Jan; Volume 16 Number 1 California Wilderness Coalition 15th anniversary articles; Wilderness Primer part VIII: history of RARE II inventory process; status of National Forest plans and appeals.
1991; Feb; Volume 16 Number 2
1991; Mar; Volume 16 Number 3
1991; Apr; Volume 16 Number 4
1991; May; Volume 16 Number 5
1991; Jun; Volume 16 Number 6
1991; Jul; Volume 16 Number 7 BLM releases final wilderness recommendations for California; including map; list of areas; and analysis.
1991; Aug; Volume 16 Number 8
1991; Sep; Volume 16 Number 9
1991; Oct; Volume 16 Number 10
1991; Nov; Volume 16 Number 11
1991; Dec; Volume 16 Number 12
1992
1992; Jan; Volume 17 Number 1
1992; Feb; Volume 17 Number 2
1992; Mar; Volume 17 Number 3
1992; Apr; Volume 17 Number 4
1992; May; Volume 17 Number 5
1992; Jun; Volume 17 Number 6
1992; Jul; Volume 17 Number 7
1992; Aug; Volume 17 Number 8 Articles about wilderness management issues; including Forest Service wilderness planning schedule. California Wilderness Contest quiz.
1992; Sep; Volume 17 Number 9
1992; Oct; Volume 17 Number 10
1992; Nov; Volume 17 Number 11
1992; Dec; Volume 17 Number 12
1993
1993; Jan; Volume 18 Number 1
1993; Feb; Volume 18 Number 2
1993; Mar; Volume 18 Number 3
1993; Apr; Volume 18 Number 4
1993; May; Volume 18 Number 5
1993; Jun; Volume 18 Number 6
1993; Jul; Volume 18 Number 7
1993; Aug; Volume 18 Number 8
1993; Sep; Volume 18 Number 9
1993; Oct; Volume 18 Number 10
1993; Nov; Volume 18 Number 11
1993; Dec; Volume 18 Number 12
1994
1994; Jan; Volume 19 Number 1
1994; Feb; Volume 19 Number 2
1994; Mar; Volume 19 Number 3
1994; Apr; Volume 19 Number 4
1994; May; Volume 19 Number 5 Senate passes the Desert Protection Act.
1994; Jun; Volume 19 Number 6
1994; Jul; Volume 19 Number 7
1994; Aug; Volume 19 Number 8
1994; Sep; Volume 19 Number 9 30th anniversary of Wilderness Act; articles on history and plans for future protections.
1994; Oct; Volume 19 Number 10
1994; Nov; Volume 19 Number 11 Desert Protection Act signed; full map; descriptions of new wilderness; analysis of the 9 year political struggle; Jim's "Monthly Report" highlights CWC's long involvement in this effort.
1994; Dec; Volume 19 Number 12 CWC conservation report for 1994 describes wide range of projects and campaigns for the year.
1995
1995; Jan; Volume 20 Number 1
1995; Feb; Volume 20 Number 2
1995; Mar; Volume 20 Number 3
1995; Apr; Volume 20 Number 4
1995; May; Volume 20 Number 5
1995; Jun; Volume 20 Number 6
1995; Jul; Volume 20 Number 7
1995; Aug; Volume 20 Number 8
1995; Sep; Volume 20 Number 9
1995; Oct; Volume 20 Number 10
1995; Nov; Volume 20 Number 11
1995; Dec; Volume 20 Number 12
1996
1996; Jan; Volume 21 Number 1
1996; Feb; Volume 21 Number 2
1996; Mar; Volume 21 Number 3
1996; Apr; Volume 21 Number 4
1996; May; Volume 21 Number 5 Includes 1996 Wilderness Guide supplement.
1996; Jun; Volume 21 Number 6
1996; Jul; Volume 21 Number 7
1996; Aug; Volume 21 Number 8
1996; Sep; Volume 21 Number 9
1996; Oct; Volume 21 Number 10
1996; Nov; Volume 21 Number 11
1996; Dec; Volume 21 Number 12
1997
1997; Jan; Volume 22 Number 1
1997; Feb; Volume 22 Number 2
1997; Mar; Volume 22 Number 3
1997; Apr; Volume 22 Number 4
1997; May; Volume 22 Number 5
1997; Jun; Volume 22 Number 6
1997; Jul; Volume 22 Number 7 Tributes to Jim Eaton upon his retirement as CWC Executive Director.
1997; Aug; Volume 22 Number 8
1997; Sep; Volume 22 Number 9
1997; Oct; Volume 22 Number 10
1997; Nov; Volume 22 Number 11
1997; Dec; Volume 22 Number 12
1998
1998; Jan; Volume 23 Number 1
1998; Feb; Volume 23 Number 2
1998; Mar; Volume 23 Number 3
1998; Apr; Volume 23 Number 4
1998; May; Volume 23 Number 5
1998; Jun+Jul; Volume 23 Number 6+7
1998; Aug; Volume 23 Number 8
1998; Sep; Volume 23 Number 9
1998; Oct; Volume 23 Number 10
1998; Nov; Volume 23 Number 11
1998; Dec; Volume 23 Number 12
1999
1999; Jan; Volume 24 Number 1 [Last issue in monthly newspaper format]
1999; Spring; Volume 24 Number 2 [First issue in quarterly magazine format]
1999; Summer; Volume 24 Number 3
1999; Fall; Volume 24 Number 4
2000
2000; Spring; Volume 25 Number 1
2000; Summer; Volume 25 Number 2 special insert: 2000 Wilderness Guide.
2000; Fall; Volume 25 Number 3
2001
2001; Winter; Volume 26 Number 1 special insert: Coalition annual report for year 2000.
2001; Spring; Volume 26 Number 2 Coalition 25th anniversary issue.
2001; Summer; Volume 26 Number 3 special insert: 2001 Wilderness Guide.
2001; Fall; Volume 26 Number 4 special feature: California desert.
2002
2002; Winter; Volume 27 Number 1 special insert: Coalition annual report for year 2001.
2002; Spring; Volume 27 Number 2
2002; Summer; Volume 27 Number 3 California Wild Heritage Act proposal; map and lists; special insert: 2002 Wilderness Guide.
2002; Fall; Volume 27 Number 4
2003
2003; Winter; Volume 28 Number 1
2003; Spring; Volume 28 Number 2
2003; Summer; Volume 28 Number 3
2003; Fall; Volume 28 Number 4
2004
2004; Winter; Volume 29 Number 1
2004; Spring; Volume 29 Number 2 (no scan - missing from my collection)
2004; Summer; Volume 29 Number 3
2004; Fall; Volume 29 Number 4 (no scan - missing from my collection)
2005
2005; Winter; Volume 30 Number 1
2005; Spring; Volume 30 Number 2
2005; Summer; Volume 30 Number 3
2005; Fall; Volume 30 Number 4
2006
2006; Spring; Volume 31 Number 1
2006; Summer; Volume 31 Number 2
2006; Fall; Volume 31 Number 3
2007
2007; Winter; Volume 32 Number 1
2007; Spring; Volume 32 Number 2
2007; Summer; Volume 32 Number 3
2007; Fall; Volume 32 Number 4
2008
2008; Winter; Volume 33 Number 1
2008; Spring+Summer; Volume 33 Number 2
2008; Fall; Volume 33 Number 3
2009
2009; Spring; Volume 34 Number 1
2009; Summer; Volume 34 Number 2
2009; Fall; Volume 34 Number 3
2010
2010; Winter; Volume 35 Number 1
2010; Spring+Summer; Volume 35 Number 2
2010; Fall; Volume 35 Number 3
2011
2011; Winter; Volume 36 Number 1 Includes notice that printed publication ceases after this issue; changing to email.
2016
2016; Oct; Volume 40 Number 1 Special 40th anniversary retrospective commemorative issue.