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.
Hiking with Shawn Opposes the National Park Service Transfer
Hiking with Shawn Opposes the National Park Service TransferThis blog is a little different. I’m officially stating my opinion on the Shawnee National Park and Climate Preserves proposal. My opinion is that I and Hiking with Shawn OPPOSES the transfer of the Shawnee...
How to Stay Safe While Hiking (A Guide to Hiking Safety)
How to Stay Safe While Hiking (A Guide to Hiking Safety)It’s important to stay safe while hiking. Hiking is fun. It’s an adventure. It’s a great way to stay in shape and lead a healthy lifestyle. There is so much to see and do as a hiker. But hiking can be dangerous,...
9 Scenic Creek Hikes in Southern Illinois to Enjoy this Summer
9 Scenic Creek Hikes in Southern Illinois to Enjoy this SummerThere are many great scenic creek hikes in Southern Illinois to enjoy. These kinds of hikes are great in the summer, too. You can take your shoes off and cool down a little. Sometimes, you can find a spot...
10 of the Best Sweet Shops in Southern Illinois You Must Visit
10 of the Best Sweet Shops in Southern Illinois You Must VisitYou got to try these amazing, sweet shops in Southern Illinois! Whether you’re a local or someone visiting to enjoy the Shawnee National Forest and our state parks, these mom-and-pop sweet shops are to die...
10 Delicious Restaurants Near the Shawnee National Forest
10 Delicious Restaurants Near the Shawnee National ForestI’m always looking for restaurants near the Shawnee National Forest. I want something unique, different from the rest, and tasty! I don’t want the same ole fast food burger that’s 90% greasy and a heart attack...
7 Kid-Friendly Hikes in Southern Illinois
7 Kid-Friendly Hikes in Southern IllinoisAre you looking for kid-friendly hikes in Southern Illinois? State parks are scattered throughout the Southern Illinois region. The Shawnee National Forest is vast, covering nearly 300,000 acres. Signage has never been the...
Upcoming Events for the Total Solar Eclipse Weekend and Other Days
Upcoming Events for the Total Solar Eclipse Weekend and Other DaysFor this week's blog post, I've decided to share some of my last newsletter on the Total Solar Eclipse events that are occurring around southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. It includes...
The 2024 Dirty South Roubaix Recap
The 2024 Dirty South Roubaix RecapI did the Dirty South Roubaix this year for the first time. This is my race recap of what I experienced and what my overall thoughts of the race were. A Roubaix (pronounced Roo Bay) is a mix of mud, dirty, paved, and mixed road...
The Hiker’s Code: Unwritten Rules of Trail Etiquette
The Hiker's Code: Unwritten Rules of Trail EtiquetteTo me, there’s something about going out on the trails, either solo or with friends, that will always hold a special place in my heart. It doesn’t matter if I’m having a good or bad day, I always look forward to...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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...
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...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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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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