Hiking with Shawn – Shawnee National Forest

Learn about everything Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois State Parks on this official Hiking with Shawn website. Find trail guides, blogs, top 10s, gear reviews, and updated conditions for the Shawnee here on Hiking with Shawn. The Shawnee National Forest is a nearly 280,000-acre National Forest located in Southern Illinois.

Hiking with Shawn is an outdoor recreation brand that promotes hiking, biking, and outdoor use centering around the Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois state parks, and beyond. This brand was founded by Southern Illinois native and avid outdoorsman Shawn Gossman. Shawn is also a licensed and permitted hiking guide offering guide services in the Shawnee National Forest.

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Hiking with Shawn Trail Guides

Enjoy my latest Trail Guides which are free and updated to help keep you on the trail!

Mill Branch Trail Guide

Mill Branch Trail Guide Mill Branch Trail is one of the most unique hiking trails in the Shawnee National Forest. (Moderate – 1.8 miles – Loop)There’s no other trail quite like Mill Branch. This trail can be accessed at Bell Smith Springs in the Shawnee National...

How To Go Caving at Illinois Caverns

How To Go Caving at Illinois CavernsAre you planning to go caving at Illinois Caverns this year? Illinois Caverns recently opened back up to the public a few years ago after being closed to help protect the native bat population from White Nose Syndrome, a disease...

Giant City Road Biking Route Itinerary

Giant City Road Biking Route ItineraryGiant City road biking is great for many different reasons. It’s scenic. It’s great for fitness. It’s lightly trafficked. Your selected road biking route can make or break your cycling adventure. You spent all that money on a road...

Hiking with Shawn Blog

Check out the latest posts from Shawn’s blog!

The Outdoor Economic Summit

The Outdoor Economic Summit

The Outdoor Economic SummitAbout a week ago or so, I sat in on the Outdoor Economic Summit at SIU’s Touch of Nature Educational Center in Makanda. It was put on by the folks at Southern Illinois Now, which is an organization with an aim to help people move to, stay...

Ultralight Backpacking Guide

Ultralight Backpacking GuideUltralight backpacking is a type of multi-day hiking that emphasizes bringing less amounts of gear and focusing on lighter-weight items. The idea of going backpacking with ultralight in mind is for when you want to go faster, travel...

13 Different Types of Hiking to Try Today

13 Different Types of Hiking to Try Today

13 Different Types of Hiking to Try TodayThere are many different types of hiking styles to choose from. Whether you’re into day hiking, backpacking, or specialized hiking, there is a style of hiking that is best for you. You might find yourself trying out many...

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