The Hiking with Shawn Black Friday Hike concluded with 15 happy hikers.

We met at Golden Circle Trailhead at 9:30 AM on Black Friday morning. We hiked 3 miles. We saw Knights of the Golden Circle, Mushroom Rock, Buzzard’s Roost, and much of the beautiful Shawnee National Forest along the route.

Out of the 15 hikers, some were from Southern Illinois, Central Illinois, Kentucky, and Indiana.

Everyone left happy. Some went to The Red Onion to eat afterward; some went to The Gap. A few of us went to Mackie’s Pizza in Harrisburg.

It was a day spent enjoying the Shawnee National Forest and supporting local Mom and Pop dining.

The Knights of the Golden Circle area allegedly was a secret society meeting place during the Civil War. This society was confederate sympathizers. Illinois was a Union state, but many people in the state supported confederate ideologies. The legend was told to the hikers during our visit to the Golden Circle arches area.

We plan to host more of these community hikes throughout the year. They’re free. But we might ask that you bring a canned good item or a bag of pet food to help support local Southern Illinois food pantries and humane shelters. To see future community hiking events, pay attention to Our Facebook Page, or subscribe to our newsletter to be notified.

Thank you to everyone who joined the Black Friday hike, and we look forward to future hikes with you!

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