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.
White Rock Nature Preserve Trail Guide
White Rock Nature Preserve Trail GuideWhite Rock Nature Preserve hiking and nature preserve located near Valmeyer, Illinois. You can hike over 6 miles at this preserve and enjoy many scenic sights, including beautiful glade overlooks. In this guide, I’ll share...
How to Recover Faster After a Long Day Hike
How to Recover Faster After a Long Day HikeYou definitely want to learn how to recover after a long day hike. Recovery is just as important as the hike itself. Proper recovery is needed to ensure that hiking remains both fun and healthy. If you’re not recovering from...
Cave Spring Loop Trail Guide
Cave Spring Loop Trail GuideCave Spring Loop Trail is a beautiful, scenic trail near Eminence, Missouri. The trail is a 5+ mile loop with plenty of scenic sights along the entire hike, but it is moderately rugged. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know...
How to Make Your Phone Last Longer on Longer Hikes
How to Make Your Phone Last Longer on Longer HikesToday, it’s often important to make your phone last longer on longer hikes because phones have become such important pieces of hiking gear. Many people don’t have the skills to read a map, use a compass, or utilize a...
Barkley Canal East Loop Trail Guide
Barkley Canal East Loop Trail GuideThe Barkley Canal East Loop Trail is located on the Kentucky side of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This 3+ mile loop trail is designated for hiking and mountain biking use only. Equestrian and motorized vehicles...
How to Hike Rugged and Hilly Terrain with Ease
How to Hike Rugged and Hilly Terrain with EaseAre you trying to figure out how to hike rugged and hilly terrain without feeling like you’re dying after you’re done hiking? There are easy trails, and then there are moderated and rugged trails. Harder trails are going...
First Time in the Shawnee National Forest? Start with These Hiking Trails!
First Time in the Shawnee National Forest? Start with These Hiking Trails!It’s your first time in the Shawnee National Forest, and there are so many hiking trail options that you don’t know where to start. You don’t want to miss the best hikes. You don’t want to go to...
Golden Circle Trail Guide
Golden Circle Trail Guide A 1.5-mile Hiking Trail located in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois.The Golden Circle Trail is a 1.5-mile lollipop loop starting from the Golden Circle Trailhead in the Shawnee National Forest near Herod, Illinois. This trail...
10 Ways to Get Lost on a Hiking Trail
10 Ways to Get Lost on a Hiking TrailYou can easily get lost on a hiking trail. Getting lost in the woods doesn’t always have to involve a deep wilderness adventure or a bushwhacking session. Hiking trails are usually full of junctions, cross-trails, and social...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
White Rock Nature Preserve Trail Guide
White Rock Nature Preserve Trail GuideWhite Rock Nature Preserve hiking and nature preserve located near Valmeyer, Illinois. You can hike over 6 miles at this preserve and enjoy many scenic sights, including beautiful glade overlooks. In this guide, I’ll share...
Cave Spring Loop Trail Guide
Cave Spring Loop Trail GuideCave Spring Loop Trail is a beautiful, scenic trail near Eminence, Missouri. The trail is a 5+ mile loop with plenty of scenic sights along the entire hike, but it is moderately rugged. In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know...
Barkley Canal East Loop Trail Guide
Barkley Canal East Loop Trail GuideThe Barkley Canal East Loop Trail is located on the Kentucky side of Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. This 3+ mile loop trail is designated for hiking and mountain biking use only. Equestrian and motorized vehicles...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Wise Owl Outfitters DoubleOwl Review
Wise Owl Outfitters DoubleOwl Review: Is This Two-Person Camping Hammock Worth It?Have you heard of the Wise Owl Outfitters DoubleOwl hammock before? If you’re looking for a good backpacking hammock, this review is for you. I’ve been using the Wise Owl Outfitters...
Baleaf Rain Jacket Review: Is This Budget Rain Shell Worth It for Hiking?
Baleaf Rain Jacket Review: Is This Budget Rain Shell Worth It for Hiking?The Baleaf Rain Jacket is a high-visibility rain jacket that can be used for hiking, trail running, cycling, and most outdoor activities. I have used this rain jacket for both hiking and cycling...
Janji Trail Half Tights Review for Hiking and Trail Running
Janji Trail Half Tights Review for Hiking and Trail RunningI’ve been wearing the Janji Trail Half Tights for hiking and trail running for a little over a year now. The Janji shorts are growing in popularity as a main choice for trail runners and hikers who prefer the...
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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