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.
5 Hiking Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be Making
5 Hiking Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be MakingHiking mistakes happen. Like any mistake, there are mistakes in everything. But we should try our best to avoid mistakes whenever possible. The same goes for the mistakes we make during our hiking adventures. It’s easy to make...
Giant City versus Ferne Clyffe: Which State Park is Better?
Giant City versus Ferne Clyffe: Which State Park is Better?Giant City versus Ferne Clyffe – which State Park do you think is better than the other? First, I didn’t make this article to point out what’s wrong with either park. That’s not what I do, and that’s not what...
What’s the Best Part of Shawnee National Forest?
What’s the Best Part of Shawnee National Forest?Do you want to know what the best part of Shawnee National Forest is? It depends on what type of outdoor activities you’re into. The Shawnee National Forest has something for everyone. That’s what makes southern Illinois...
10 Shawnee National Forest Historical Areas to See in 2023
10 Shawnee National Forest Historical Areas to See in 2023Are you interested in visiting Shawnee National Forest historical areas? Southern Illinois is full of them! There’s much history throughout the Shawnee National Forest and our local state parks. And you can...
6 Great Southern Illinois Workout Hikes
6 Great Southern Illinois Workout HikesAre you looking for Southern Illinois workout hikes? There are Shawnee National Forest fitness trails throughout southern Illinois. There are trails for all different types of exercising, too. Hiking is a great way to stay in...
8 Rules of Hiking Etiquette
8 Rules of Hiking EtiquetteDo you use hiking etiquette when enjoying the trails? Hiking etiquette isn’t there to ruin your fun. It’s not there to interfere with your right to public land. It isn’t there to boss you around and make you feel controlled. Etiquette...
How to Leave The Trail Better Than You Found It
How to Leave The Trail Better Than You Found ItHave you ever heard the saying, how to leave the trail better than you found it? It’s like Leave No Trace but with some extra effort from you to make the trail even better. You can do a couple of things to leave the trail...
5 Hiking Emergency Items Worth Taking on Every Hike
5 Hiking Emergency Items Worth Taking on Every HikeSome hiking emergency items are worth taking, just in case. You might plan for an uneventful day hike, but in nature, anything can happen. Humans really control nothing in nature, either. It’s rugged and unforgiving...
My Favorite Trails Per Season
My Favorite Trails Per SeasonI have favorite trails per season to hike at in the Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois. My favorite trail during the spring season is the River to River Trail section between Bowman Bottoms Road and Tunnel Hill State Trail....
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Horse Creek Trail
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Horse Creek TrailHorse Creek Trail is a moderately rugged 5.7-mile loop trail located near McClure, Illinois in Alexander County. This trail is a part of the Shawnee National Forest and is maintained by the Mississippi Springs...
Old Stoneface Trail Guide in the Shawnee National Forest
Old Stoneface Trail Guide Shawnee National ForestOld Stoneface is a 1.6-mile out and back moderately rugged trail in Saline County, Illinois. Old Stoneface trail features various bluff, rock formations and scenic overlooks. The trail is most known for its main rock...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: High Knob Area
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: High Knob AreaHigh Knob is a pretty special gem of the Shawnee National Forest to many different user groups. High Knob is very popular to the horseback and mule riding communities. High Knob is also a favorite of hiking and...
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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