Hiking with Shawn Blog

Welcome to the Hiking with Shawn Blog! You can expect weekly blog posts featuring hiking, camping, cycling, and kayaking tips. I also post trail guides around Southern Illinois and beyond. You’ll also find gear reviews on the Hiking with Shawn Blog, as well.

Latest from the Hiking with Shawn Blog

The Hiking with Shawn Blog will feature one post a week featuring outdoor recreation tips, trail guides, and gear reviews.

Echo Bluff State Park Video Guide

Echo Bluff State Park Video Guide

Echo Bluff State Park Video GuideIn this video, we revisit Echo Bluff State Park near Eminence, Missouri. This is one of our favorite places to visit when we go to Ozark National Scenic Riverways, usually every year. We always feel welcome at Echo Bluff State...

White Oaks Trail Guide

White Oaks Trail Guide

White Oaks Trail GuideWhite Oaks Trail, located at Hawn State Park near New Offenburg in Missouri, is a great trail where you should go hiking. This is a lollipop loop trail that is moderately difficult with some creek crossings and rolling hills. The trail is 4.2...

Klepzig Mill Video Guide

Klepzig Mill Video Guide

Klepzig Mill Video GuideIn this video, we head to Klepzig Mill for the first time. It was beautiful to say the least. Klepzig Mill is located in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. Next time we visit, we’ll hike more on the trail there.What You’ll See in...

Alley Spring and Mill Video Guide

Alley Spring and Mill Video Guide

Alley Spring and Mill Video GuideIn this video, we hike to Alley Spring and Mill in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. This hike was done during the Government Shutdown, and while park staff were not present, the public was allowed to visit.What You’ll...

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for Outdoor Adventures

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for Outdoor Adventures

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for Outdoor AdventuresI’ve been using the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for most of the year and, so far, it has been the ultimate outdoor watch. I’m using this watch as my everyday watch, but mainly for...

Building the Perfect Winter Day Hiking Kit

Building the Perfect Winter Day Hiking Kit

Building the Perfect Winter Day Hiking KitIt’s time you built your perfect winter day hiking kit so that you can enjoy the magic of winter hiking without worrying about the grim hazards that come with it. Winter hiking requires you to plan specifically. That’s because...

Rocky Falls Video Guide

Rocky Falls Video Guide

Rocky Falls Video GuideThis is the start of a new video series featuring our annual family trip to Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. In this video, we visit Rocky Falls which is a cool cascade and waterfall area where you can walk all around.What You’ll See...

Latest Trail Guides

Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.

Echo Bluff State Park Video Guide

Echo Bluff State Park Video Guide

Echo Bluff State Park Video GuideIn this video, we revisit Echo Bluff State Park near Eminence, Missouri. This is one of our favorite places to visit when we go to Ozark National Scenic Riverways, usually every year. We always feel welcome at Echo Bluff State...

White Oaks Trail Guide

White Oaks Trail Guide

White Oaks Trail GuideWhite Oaks Trail, located at Hawn State Park near New Offenburg in Missouri, is a great trail where you should go hiking. This is a lollipop loop trail that is moderately difficult with some creek crossings and rolling hills. The trail is 4.2...

Klepzig Mill Video Guide

Klepzig Mill Video Guide

Klepzig Mill Video GuideIn this video, we head to Klepzig Mill for the first time. It was beautiful to say the least. Klepzig Mill is located in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. Next time we visit, we’ll hike more on the trail there.What You’ll See in...

Latest Gear Reviews

Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for Outdoor Adventures

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for Outdoor Adventures

Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for Outdoor AdventuresI’ve been using the Garmin Instinct 3 Solar Tactical Sports Watch for most of the year and, so far, it has been the ultimate outdoor watch. I’m using this watch as my everyday watch, but mainly for...

BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights for Hiking and Trail RunningAre BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights a good option for hiking and trail running? BOA Half Tights are a performance-style compression short from the BOA brand. These shorts are meant to be worn alone and for...

Janji Trail Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

Janji Trail Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

Janji Trail Tights for Hiking and Trail RunningJanji Trail Tights have become my go-to tights for hiking and trail running when the weather is cool outside. The trail tights by Janji are for everyone, really. You can wear them hiking, trail running, backpacking, and...

Interested in Writing on the Hiking with Shawn Blog?

I am currently accepting guest contributions from outdoor enthusiasts and local businesses and organizations that are interested in posting on my blog. For the most part, guest posting is free as long as it’s non-commercial in nature. Just to be clear, I do not sell links. While I do accept paid sponsored posts from time to time, I reject around 9 out of 10 of sponsored post requests. If the content isn’t of the highest value to my readers, I will not accept it.

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