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.
Why Early Morning Hiking is the Way To Go
Why Early Morning Hiking is the Way To GoAre you into early morning hiking, or do you like to sleep in before getting up to go for a hike? Did you know that hiking in the morning might be what you need to make your day better? Not everyone can hike in the morning...
5 Best Illinois State Park Trails to Visit the Year
5 Best Illinois State Park Trails to Visit this YearThere are a lot of Illinois State Park Trails to choose from in the southern part of the state! I wanted to feature five great trails you should check out this year. Here are 5 of my favorite Illinois State Park...
Future Hiking with Shawn Group Hikes
Future Hiking with Shawn Group HikesHiking with Shawn group hikes is something I’m planning to do more of soon. I know that many of you would like to hike with me, and I’d love to hike with you. I have some ideas for group hiking events. I’d also like to see your...
Another Successful Black Friday Hike!
Another Successful Black Friday Hike!The Hiking with Shawn Black Friday Hike concluded with 15 happy hikers. We met at Golden Circle Trailhead at 9:30 AM on Black Friday morning. We hiked 3 miles. We saw Knights of the Golden Circle, Mushroom Rock, Buzzard’s Roost,...
Shawnee National Forest Lodging Guide
Shawnee National Forest Lodging GuideLooking for Shawnee National Forest lodging for your next visit to Southern Illinois? Look no further because this ultimate guide was created for you. The Shawnee National Forest spans nearly 300,000 acres across beautiful scenic...
Hiking Gear List: What I Take on My Hikes
Hiking Gear List: What I Take on My HikesA lot of you have asked about my hiking gear list, and I wanted to write something that talks about it. Having hiking gear is essential to helping you make the best out of your outdoor experience. It allows you to push the...
12 Lesser Known Southern Illinois Waterfalls that You MUST See
12 Lesser Known Southern Illinois Waterfalls that You MUST SeeAre you looking for some Southern Illinois Waterfalls that are lesser known? You’ve come to the right place. Southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest are packed with waterfalls. Some are well-known...
6 Backpacking Hacks to Make Your Hike Better
6 Backpacking Hacks to Make Your Hike BetterThere are some great backpacking hacks out there to help ensure you have the best possible hiking experience. These hacks are meant to improve your hiking trips. These are learned from the experience of many hikers...
10 Southern Illinois Winter Hikes to Enjoy this Winter
10 Southern Illinois Winter Hikes to Enjoy this WinterSouthern Illinois winter hikes are memories you don’t want to forget this season. The Southern Illinois region is full of fantastic hiking trails. People not from Illinois are constantly flabbergasted that this...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Hitching Post)
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Hitching Post)When most people think about Garden of the Gods, they think about the Observation Trail or Indian Point. No one ever really thinks about the other hiking opportunities around the...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Interstate Trail
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Interstate TrailThe Interstate Trail is a 1.6 mile trail that is very easy to hike. This is a horseback trail but is also open to hikers as well. There are some features to see on this trail including bluffs, a former school...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Schwegman Ecological Area & Groundhog Den
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Schwegman Ecological Area & Groundhog DenSchwegman Ecological Area and Groundhog Den are unique gems in the Shawnee National Forest. I’ve talked to the fella who used to live in these areas before the land was sold to the US...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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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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