Hiking with Shawn Blog
Welcome to the official Hiking with Shawn Blog, where you can find my trail guides, gear reviews, and more! I try to post a few times a week! Please feel free to share my posts and leave a comment!
Hiking with Shawn Blog: Latest Posts
The latest posts from Hiking with Shawn!
Shawnee Photo Contest
Shawnee Photo ContestI have this domain ShawneePhotoContest.com. I’ve considered creating an annual Shawnee Photo Contest. I don’t have much to offer as a prize, but I figured bragging rights if anything could be a good enough prize. Maybe even sell sponsorship for...
Giant City Stonefort Trail Guide
Giant City Stonefort Trail GuideGiant City Stonefort Trail gives you a glimpse into a period so long ago that we know very little about its history of it. This short but potentially challenging trail features an ancient rock wall made by the very early-period of...
10 Shawnee Forest Frozen Waterfall Destinations
10 Shawnee Forest Frozen Waterfall DestinationsAre you looking for Shawnee Forest frozen waterfalls destinations? The Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois is full of beautiful waterfall spots. During our frigid and cold winters, these waterfalls tend to...
Water versus Powerade for Outdoor Recreation
Water versus Powerade for Outdoor RecreationThe water versus Powerade debate, Hiking with Shawn style. I want to discuss my thoughts on using water or Powerade for hydration while hiking and biking. I’ve experimented with water and Powerade for all the activities...
Giant City Nature Trail Guide
Giant City Nature Trail GuideGiant City Nature Trail is one of the most popular trails in Giant City State Park. The Nature Trail is an easy loop hike appropriate for hikers of all ages and difficulties. There is a lot to see along the Giant City Nature Trail that...
Tick Defense for Hikers
Tick Defense for HikersWhat do you do for tick defense? As we approach warmer weather, that means we’ll get back into tick season. Ticks will be out, and we'll see them crawling on us more often as the trail gets overgrown. In this article, I’ll tell you about tick...
Hiking with Shawn Trail Guides
Free and detailed trail guides for navigating the Shawnee National Forest, State Parks, and Beyond!
Giant City Stonefort Trail Guide
Giant City Stonefort Trail GuideGiant City Stonefort Trail gives you a glimpse into a period so long ago that we know very little about its history of it. This short but potentially challenging trail features an ancient rock wall made by the very early-period of...
Giant City Nature Trail Guide
Giant City Nature Trail GuideGiant City Nature Trail is one of the most popular trails in Giant City State Park. The Nature Trail is an easy loop hike appropriate for hikers of all ages and difficulties. There is a lot to see along the Giant City Nature Trail that...
Giant City Trillium Trail Guide
Giant City Trillium Trail GuideGiant City Trillium Trail is a popular trail located near Makanda in Southern Illinois. Trillium Trail is a part of Giant City State Park. The trail is also known as Fern Rocks Nature Preserve. As a designated nature preserve, it is...
Giant City versus Ferne Clyffe: Which State Park is Better?
Giant City versus Ferne Clyffe: Which State Park is Better?Giant City versus Ferne Clyffe – which State Park do you think is better than the other? First, I didn’t make this article to point out what’s wrong with either park. That’s not what I do, and that’s not what...
Fort Massac State Park Guide
Fort Massac State Park GuideFort Massac State Park was the first state park in Illinois. This Illinois State Park offers many activities, including historical reference, cycling, hiking, disk golf, boating, and more. There is even a substantial world-famous encampment...
Dixon Springs State Park Visitor Guide
Dixon Springs State Park Visitor GuideDixon Springs State Park is an amazing Illinois State Park. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out. Save this guide for a future visit! If you’ve been and had issues finding things in the park – you’ll appreciate this free...
Hiking with Shawn Gear Reviews
Check out my hiking, biking, and outdoor recreation related gear reviews.
5 Hiking Emergency Items Worth Taking on Every Hike
5 Hiking Emergency Items Worth Taking on Every HikeSome hiking emergency items are worth taking, just in case. You might plan for an uneventful day hike, but in nature, anything can happen. Humans really control nothing in nature, either. It’s rugged and unforgiving...
RightOnTrek Breakfast Meal Review
RightOnTrek Breakfast Meal ReviewI tried something new this morning. I ate a RightOnTrek breakfast meal. It was Cheesy Mushroom Egg Scramble. The name alone made it sound so delicious. I love cheese. I love eggs. I really love mushrooms. But I never thought about...
Hiking Gear List: What I Take on My Hikes
Hiking Gear List: What I Take on My HikesA lot of you have asked about my hiking gear list, and I wanted to write something that talks about it. Having hiking gear is essential to helping you make the best out of your outdoor experience. It allows you to push the...
10 Kayaking Gift Ideas to Get this Holiday Season
10 Kayaking Gift Ideas to Get this Holiday SeasonDo you need kayaking gift ideas this holiday season? Is there a special kayaker in your life that you want to treat? Look no further! In this article, you’ll see ten great kayaking Christmas gift ideas for that special...
10 Awesome Hiking Gift Ideas this Holiday Season
10 Awesome Hiking Gift Ideas this Holiday SeasonAre you looking for hiking gift ideas for that particular hiker in your life? Christmas and other holidays are almost here, and there is little time to shop. Hiking gifts are perfect for our outdoorsy significant other,...
3 Osprey Hiking Backpack Reviews for Different Hiking Trips
3 Osprey Hiking Backpack Reviews for Different Hiking TripsThe Osprey Hiking Backpack is well known for being a prominent pack for the hiking community. Osprey Packs is a widely-known hiking backpack brand. It is usually a little bit more expensive than other brands,...
Hiking with Shawn Blog Posts
My latest posts about the Shawnee National Forest, state parks, and beyond!
Water versus Powerade for Outdoor Recreation
Water versus Powerade for Outdoor RecreationThe water versus Powerade debate, Hiking with Shawn style. I want to discuss my thoughts on using water or Powerade for hydration while hiking and biking. I’ve experimented with water and Powerade for all the activities...
Tick Defense for Hikers
Tick Defense for HikersWhat do you do for tick defense? As we approach warmer weather, that means we’ll get back into tick season. Ticks will be out, and we'll see them crawling on us more often as the trail gets overgrown. In this article, I’ll tell you about tick...
Snake Road Survey
Snake Road SurveyPlease take this Snake Road Survey. This survey is mainly meant for southern Illinois locals. This is for everyone in southern Illinois to determine their perception of Snake Road. Take the Snake Road Survey, whether you’re for or against it. Take the...
How To Plan An E-bike Camping Trip
How To Plan An E-bike Camping TripCamping is considered one of the perfect ways to spend time with nature either alone or with friends and family. The closer you get to nature, the more lively you feel. However, to reach the camping spots, people usually prefer cars...
What Do You Want To See Next?
What Do You Want To See Next?What do you think about this blog? What articles does it lack? What do you want me to write about? Do you want me to keep writing every day? Please leave me a comment and let me know how I can improve this blog. I’m all ears (or eyes since...
Hammock versus Tent: Which one is Better?
Hammock versus Tent: Which one is Better?Let’s discuss the hammock versus tent debate and see which is better. This article shows the pros and cons of sleeping in a hammock. You’ll also see the pros and cons of sleeping in a tent. After reading the hammock versus tent...
Hiking with Shawn Patreon Posts
Premium blog posts only available to Patreon Members. Learn more at My Patreon Page.
Bushwhacking Off Trail: How to Effectively Hike Off Trail
Bushwhacking Off Trail: How to Effectively Hike Off TrailBushwhacking might sound a little taboo. Many folks are against bushwhacking off trail for a number of reason. One particular reason is ecology because you might harm sensitive plants or violate leave no trace....
Apps Hiking with Shawn Uses
Apps Hiking with Shawn UsesHowdy Patreon Supporters! In this exclusive Patreon-member only article, I’ll be going over each of the apps Hiking with Shawn uses on my phone and what I use it for. This will be apps Hiking with Shawn uses on my iPhone of course but I’m...
Hiking Hacks for Patreon Supporters
Hiking Hacks for Patreon SupportersWelcome to another Patreon Exclusive article! In this article, I’ll be focusing on hiking hacks or just tips and tricks to make hiking much easier. Many of these hacks are something I use and have changed hiking for me altogether....
Lightening your Load while Hiking and Backpacking
Lightening Your Load while Hiking and BackpackingLightening your load will reduce the weight you must carry while hiking or overnight backpacking through the forest. Most of us hikers deal with the issue of weight. Our packs get loaded with weight and sometimes it can...
PATREON EXCLUSIVE: Hiking with Kids in the Shawnee National Forest
PATREON EXCLUSIVE: Hiking with Kids in the Shawnee National ForestMany of you might have kids and your kids might be smaller kids that still live at home. Getting your kids involved in your hikes promotes outdoor stewardship and a healthy lifestyle. Kids nowadays seem...
PATREON EXCLUSIVE: Top 5 Waterfalls Away From the Masses in Southern Illinois
PATREON EXCLUSIVE: Top 5 Waterfalls Away From the Masses in Southern IllinoisWaterfalls in southern Illinois are probably one of our better features of the Shawnee National Forest. But a lot of them can get pretty crowded on active days. Getting a good view or photo...
Write for the Hiking with Shawn Blog
I’m always looking for one-time guest bloggers as well as reoccurring guest bloggers. If you’re interested in writing outdoor-related articles for my blog, then I am interested in you. While I will allow you to have a link to a related websites (outdoor related), I don’t allow affiliate links or posts that are commercial in nature from guest bloggers. If you’re just looking for do-follow links, you should definitely look somewhere else. I’m looking for articles about Shawnee National Forest, southern Illinois state parks, local events related to the outdoors, state outdoor topics, and general hiking/biking/outdoor articles. If you’re interesting in writing for my blog on a one-time or regular basis, please Contact Me Today!
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