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.
10 Excellent Cycling Gift Ideas for this Holiday Season
10 Excellent Cycling Gift Ideas for this Holiday SeasonAre you in need of cycling gift ideas this year? Do you have a particular cyclist on your holiday shopping list? Christmas time and the holidays are approaching fast. And it’s time to get some last-minute shopping...
10 Awesome Hiking Gift Ideas this Holiday Season
10 Awesome Hiking Gift Ideas this Holiday SeasonAre you looking for hiking gift ideas for that particular hiker in your life? Christmas and other holidays are almost here, and there is little time to shop. Hiking gifts are perfect for our outdoorsy significant other,...
How to Dress in Layers for Hiking in the Cold
How to Dress in Layers for Hiking in the ColdHiking in cold weather doesn’t have to be dreadful if you dress in layers before you go. Layering up for cold-weather hiking will keep you comfortable in any temperature. Dressing in layers is one of the most used and...
3 Osprey Hiking Backpack Reviews for Different Hiking Trips
3 Osprey Hiking Backpack Reviews for Different Hiking TripsThe Osprey Hiking Backpack is well known for being a prominent pack for the hiking community. Osprey Packs is a widely-known hiking backpack brand. It is usually a little bit more expensive than other brands,...
27 Safe Hiking Trails in Southern Illinois during Hunting Season
27 Safe Hiking Trails in Southern Illinois during Hunting SeasonShotgun hunting season starts this weekend, and you might wonder if there are safe hiking trails! Just because it’s hunting season doesn't mean you have to give up a weekend of hiking. Hiking is the main...
Tunnel Hill Century Ride
Tunnel Hill Century RideI finally got around to completing and Tunnel Hill century ride. That’s 100 miles, in case you didn’t know. I rode 100 miles in one day, all on the Tunnel Hill State Trail in beautiful scenic southern Illinois. If you wanted to know how it went...
Section Hiking Versus Thru-Hiking
Section Hiking Versus Thru-HikingSection hiking versus thru-hiking, do you know the difference between the two? Both section hiking and thru-hiking are usually associated with longer hiking trails. Some of the longer hiking trails are ones you’ve probably heard of....
Bell Smith Springs Illinois Hiking with Shawn Trail Journal
Bell Smith Springs Illinois Hiking with Shawn Trail JournalBell Smith Springs Illinois is one of the most unique places you’ll ever visit in the Shawnee National Forest! Welcome to another one of my Hiking with Shawn Trail Journal articles, where I feature trail...
How I Find Waterfalls Hiking with Shawn Trail Journal
How I Find Waterfalls Hiking with Shawn Trail JournalHave you ever wondered how I find waterfalls throughout the Shawnee National Forest? Welcome to another Trail Journal, where in this edition, I discuss my tactics on how I find waterfalls throughout remote areas of...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Trigg Observation Tower
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Trigg Observation TowerTrigg Observation Tower is a former fire watch observation tower located in the Shawnee National Forest near Simpson, Illinois. Trigg Observation Tower was originally about 100 foot in height but half of...
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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