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.

Rocky Falls Video Guide

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...

Trigg Tours 2025 Video

Trigg Tours 2025 Video

Trigg Tours 2025 VideoIn this video, I join a large of tourists and go see several historical areas in Southern Illinois. We visit many cool spots and get interpretive history on the annual Trigg Tours event that has been going on since before the Shawnee National...

Columbus-Belmont State Park Guide

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 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...

BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights for Hiking and Trail RunningAre BOA Constrictor Plus Half Tights a good option for hiking and trail running? BOA Half Tights are a performance-style compression short from the BOA brand. These shorts are meant to be worn alone and for...

Preventing Frostbite and Hypothermia on a Day Hike

Preventing Frostbite and Hypothermia on a Day Hike

Preventing Frostbite and Hypothermia on a Day HikeAs a hiker, preventing frostbite and hypothermia while day hiking is essential. Winter hiking offers many benefits. No bugs, no snakes, no spider webs. You can see everything, and you’re not sweating so much. However,...

Homer’s Garage Video Guide

Homer’s Garage Video Guide

Homer’s Garage Video GuideIn this video, we explore an old settlement located within Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. The old settlement features Homer’s Garage, which has an old foundation and an old school bus that has been heavily graffitied over the years.What...

10 Great Hiking Trails to Avoid Hunters in Southern Illinois

10 Great Hiking Trails to Avoid Hunters in Southern Illinois

10 Great Hiking Trails to Avoid Hunters in Southern IllinoisNeed ideas for hiking trails to avoid hunters in Southern Illinois this firearm hunting season? It’s safer for you to hike on trails where hunting is prohibited. It is the responsibility of the hunter to...

Latest Trail Guides

Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.

Alley Spring and Mill Video Guide

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...

Rocky Falls Video Guide

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 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...

Latest Gear Reviews

Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.

Janji Trail Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

Janji Trail Tights for Hiking and Trail Running

Janji Trail Tights for Hiking and Trail RunningJanji Trail Tights have become my go-to tights for hiking and trail running when the weather is cool outside. The trail tights by Janji are for everyone, really. You can wear them hiking, trail running, backpacking, and...

AllTrails Hiking App Review

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...

Yaktrax Review for Winter Hiking

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...

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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