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.
One Horse Gap Video Guide
One Horse Gap Video GuideIn this video, we visit the One Horse Gap area of the Shawnee National Forest. We explore One Horse Gap, Rocky Top overlook, and the Story Cemetery, where a Cherokee woman is buried.What You’ll See at One Horse Gap There is a lot to see when...
10 Shawnee Forest Loop Hiking Trails to do This Hiking Season!
10 Shawnee Forest Loop Hiking Trails to do in 2026Are you looking for Shawnee Forest Loop Hiking Trails to hike this upcoming hiking season? Start the new year off right by choosing some of the best loop hiking trails the Shawnee National Forest has to offer. These...
Camp Cadiz Road Video Guide
Camp Cadiz Road Video GuideWe recently hiked a section of the Camp Cadiz Road near Camp Cadiz. We also hiked along an older historical section of the River to River Trail. We got to see quite a bit on this hike and also face quite a few challenges.What You’ll See...
Wickliffe Mounds Visitor Guide
Wickliffe Mounds Visitor GuideHave you ever heard of the Wickliffe Mounds State Historical Site in Wickliffe, Kentucky? This is a beautiful Kentucky State Historical Site to add to your bucket list. Not only will you get to see ancient Native American mounds,...
Little Grand Canyon Video Guide
Little Grand Canyon Video GuideWe recently took a trip to Little Grand Canyon and hiked the 3.5-mile loop trail, which features amazing scenic overlooks, tall bluffs, and waterfalls. When we went, it was dry, so there were no waterfalls. However, it’s also safer when...
AllTrails Hiking App Review
AllTrails Hiking App ReviewThe AllTrails hiking app is a great way to navigate hiking trails, as long as you use it to its fullest potential. AllTrails is a well-known hiking navigation app that has been tried and tested. It’s important to use some sort of navigation...
Winter Layering Techniques Made Simple for Hikers
Winter Layering Techniques Made Simple for HikersYou need to make sure you have your winter layering techniques down before hiking in colder weather. Layering can be a challenge. It all depends on your level of exertion and what the temperature is going to be...
Camping at LBL in Hot Weather Video Guide
Camping at LBL in Hot Weather Video GuideThis past summer, my wife and I camped at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky and enjoyed cooling off in some nearby creeks. We’ll definitely go camping there again (we have many times), but the golf carts should be restricted...
Southern Illinois Made Gift Ideas for this Holiday Season
Southern Illinois Made Gift Ideas for this Holiday SeasonAre you looking for Southern Illinois Made Gift Ideas to get people this holiday season? This article was originally intended to be a list of 20 different places to get gift ideas. However, I asked the local...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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 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 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...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Oboz Waterproof Hiking Boots Review
Oboz Waterproof Hiking Boots ReviewSince I’ve recently purchased my second pair of Oboz waterproof hiking boots, I figured that was a good time to create a review for it. I’ve used these new Oboz Mid Bridger waterproof hiking boots for a few months and those before...
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.
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