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.
A Guide to Hutchins Creek in the Shawnee National Forest
A Guide to Hutchins Creek in the Shawnee National ForestHave you ever been to Hutchins Creek in the Shawnee National Forest? Hutchins Creek is located near Alto Pass in Union County, Illinois. The creek is known as the landmark which separates the two wilderness areas...
Different Types of Trails and Trail Difficulty Explained
Different Types of Trails and Trail Difficulty ExplainedWant to know all about different types of trails and what all the difficulty ratings mean exactly? Sometimes, a trail that looks easy might be listed as moderately difficult. That could either make you think it’s...
Lower Cache River Area Guide
Lower Cache River Area GuideThe Lower Cache River area is a section of the Cache River State Natural Area that might not be as often visited as much as places like Heron Pond and Wildcat Bluff. It’s a wonderful area that truly offers multiple types of outdoor...
How Hard is it to Hike Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest?
How Hard is it to Hike Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest?Is it hard to hike Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest? The short answer is YES and NO. The long answer is the information below, which I have collected in an effort to show any...
10 Outdoor Activities to do in the Shawnee National Forest
10 Outdoor Activities to do in the Shawnee National ForestThere are many different types of outdoor activities to do in the Shawnee National Forest. Most of these outdoor activities are free, too. You just need to show up with your gear or the required method and then...
Hiking to the Bottom of Owl Bluff in Lusk Creek Wilderness
Hiking to the Bottom of Owl Bluff in Lusk Creek WildernessWe recently hiked to the bottom of Owl Bluff in the Lusk Creek Wilderness of the Shawnee National Forest. Even though it was during leaf-off, this wasn’t an easy hike. We had to hike a few miles of the trail...
Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Northeast Corner)
Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Northeast Corner)I recently published a video that depicts the very northeast area of the Garden of the Gods Wilderness. I was scrolling through my map app (OnX Hunt) one day and realized it was an area of Garden of the Gods Wilderness...
A Year-End Review of Adventure with Hiking with Shawn in 2024
A Year-End Review of Adventure with Hiking with Shawn in 2024Welcome to my Year-End Review of Hiking with Shawn. I used to make year-end review videos, which I called Rewinds after YouTube Rewinds. But it takes time to do those and better planning, which I need to...
Dispersed Camping in the Shawnee National Forest
Dispersed Camping in the Shawnee National Forest: What You Need to Know Before You GoDispersed camping in the Shawnee National Forest offers a unique escape, but without the right preparation, it can quickly turn from a dream into a challenge. The lack of amenities...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Red Cedar Backpacking Trip Video Guide
Red Cedar Backpacking Trip Video GuideThis summer, we backpacked the Red Cedar Trail at Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois. We took a two-day, one-night backpacking trip and also completed the Red Cedar Challenge during our stay.What You’ll See Along the Red...
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...
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...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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