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.
Yaktrax Review for Winter Hiking
Yaktrax Review for Winter HikingHave you ever used Yaktrax on your hike before? This gear item securely attaches to your footwear to improve traction on snow and ice. Hiking in the winter often means increased dangers of slipping and falling. But Yaktrax can help...
How to Choose the Best Hiking Boots
How to Choose the Best Hiking BootsIt’s really important for you to choose the best hiking boots possible if you truly wish to enjoy your hiking experience. Not choosing the right hiking boots means trouble for you. You’ll get blisters, sore knees and ankles, and...
Indian Point Trail Video Guide
Indian Point Trail Video GuideIndian Point Trail is located within the Garden of the Gods Wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest near Herod, Illinois. This lollipop loop hiker-only trail will give you some of the most amazing views of the wilderness and the Shawnee...
10 Great Spots for Backpacking in Southern Illinois
10 Great Spots for Backpacking in Southern IllinoisYou should try backpacking in Southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. The Shawnee National Forest and our local state parks offer great backpacking trails. You can do a simple overnight hike or a multi-day,...
Wolfden Hollow Trail Video Guide
Wolfden Hollow Trail Video GuideWolfden Hollow Trail is located within the Cedar Lake trail system in the Shawnee National Forest near Carbondale, Illinois. This lollipop loop trail offers many sights, including access to nearby Cedar Lake.What You’ll See on the...
Kincaid Mounds Visitor Guide
Kincaid Mounds Visitor GuideHave you ever been to Kincaid Mounds in Southern Illinois? I’m not talking about Cahokia Mounds, which features multiple mounds you can walk on and a visitor center. I'm talking about the smaller mound site located in rural Southern...
Indian Kitchen Trail Video Guide
Indian Kitchen Trail Video GuideIndian Kitchen Trail is located in Lusk Creek Wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. This out-and-back trail features amazing bluffs, Native American history, and the scenic Lusk Creek.What You’ll See on the...
SurviveX First Aid Kit Review for Hikers
SurviveX First Aid Kit Review for HikersHave you heard of the SurviveX first aid kit for hikers? It is always advisable to carry a first aid kit on your hikes. You never know when a mishap will occur on the hiking trail. Having the right emergency supplies will enable...
How to Choose the Right Hydration Pack for Hiking
How to Choose the Right Hydration Pack for HikingDehydration can ruin a great hike fast but choosing the right hydration pack for hiking can keep you energized, balanced, and focused on the trail—not on thirst. A hydration pack lets you stay hands-free, carry more...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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...
Columbus-Belmont State Park Guide
Columbus-Belmont State Park GuideHave you ever been to Columbus-Belmont State Park in Kentucky? If not, you sure are missing out on a great state park. This state park is very historical and there is a lot to see. There is a museum, hiking trails, and even a snack...
Abandoned Places at Land Between the Lakes Video
Abandoned Places at Land Between the Lakes VideoIn this video, we visit some backroads around the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky. We find an area with an old foundation and what looks like an old out-house or a foundation for some sort of...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
MPG Cycling Shorts Review
MPG Cycling Shorts ReviewYes, I am a Cyclist... I've been an adult cyclist since 2012 after realizing that I was 300 pounds of fat and laziness. I would become out of breath bending down to tie my own shoes - no joke! So I got a bicycle and started riding every other...
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.
Copyright © 2025 Hiking with Shawn™ All Rights Are Reserved.
Hiking with Shawn® is a Registered Trademark of Hiking with Shawn, LLC
Hiking with Shawn is not affiliated with any local, state, or federal government agency.