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.
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area Guide
Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area GuideHave you been to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL) before? It's a very large National Recreation Area located in Kentucky and Tennessee. It was initially created by the Tennessee Valley Authority...
Hawk’s Cave Trail Guide
Hawk's Cave Trail GuideHawk's Cave Trail is a short and easy loop trail located in Ferne Clyffe State Park, which is in Goreville, Illinois. The park and the trail are free to visit and hike. The trail features one of the largest natural shelters in the state of...
10 Scenic Easy Senior Hikes in Southern Illinois
10 Scenic Easy Senior Hikes in Southern IllinoisAre you in search of easy senior hikes in Southern Illinois that offer a leisurely stroll and breathtaking scenic views that will inspire you? I get a lot of requests for this type of article, so I wanted to help out and...
10 Pet-Friendly Trails in the Shawnee National Forest
10 Pet-Friendly Trails in the Shawnee National ForestAre you looking for pet-friendly trails in the Shawnee National Forest? Do you love to hike with your dog? Or maybe even your cat? But you’re unsure what trails in the Shawnee National Forest are appropriate for...
Franks Tract Loop in Lusk Creek Wilderness
Franks Tract Loop in Lusk Creek WildernessThe Franks Tract Loop in Lusk Creek Wilderness is a 6.7-mile loop that promises a breathtaking hiking adventure, a journey that I and Michelle savored this summer. This trail, a blend of different designated trails within the...
Jackson Falls Recreation Area
Jackson Falls Recreation AreaThe US Forest Service has created a Jackson Falls Recreation Area StoryMap for the public to read and comment on. The StoryMap outlines a potential effort to make Jackson Falls a better place for visitors. For many years, it's been...
10 Great Things About the Shawnee National Forest
10 Great Things About the Shawnee National ForestIn appreciation of National Forest Week, I'd love to share 10 great things about the Shawnee National Forest that I think will make you love it even more. The Shawnee National Forest is tiny compared to other...
Top 10 Places for Herping in Southern Illinois
Top 10 Places for Herping in Southern IllinoisAre you looking for good herping in Southern Illinois? Get ready for an exhilarating adventure! This article is your gateway to the many thrilling spots across Southern Illinois, where you can discover and observe herps...
Round Bluff Nature Preserve Guide
Round Bluff Nature Preserve GuideRound Bluff Nature Preserve is a hiking trail within a protected Illinois Nature Preserve located within Ferne Clyffe State Park in Goreville, Illinois. This is a guide for the trail and area surrounding the nature preserve. See my...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Kinkaid Spillway Trail Guide
Kinkaid Spillway Trail GuideIf you haven’t hiked the Kinkaid Spillway Trail yet, you’re missing out. The Kinkaid Spillway Trail is a moderately rugged out-and-back hike of less than one mile located at the Kinkaid Lake Spillway near the City of Murphysboro, Illinois....
Victoria Glades Conservation Area Guide
Victoria Glades Conservation Area GuideVictoria Glades Conservation Area is a 2.2-mile hiking loop trail located near De Soto, Missouri. The trail is relatively easy, but some creek crossings, hills, and challenging terrain are part of the hiking experience. In this...
Hughes Mountain Natural Area Guide
Hughes Mountain Natural Area GuideHave you been to Hughes Mountain Natural Area in Irondale, Missouri, yet? This natural area is probably one of my favorite hiking trails in the state of Missouri. It’s managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and features...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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