Hiking with Shawn

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.

What Do You Want To See Next?

What Do You Want To See Next?

What Do You Want To See Next?What do you think about this blog? What articles does it lack? What do you want me to write about? Do you want me to keep writing every day? Please leave me a comment and let me know how I can improve this blog. I’m all ears (or eyes since...

Hammock versus Tent: Which one is Better?

Hammock versus Tent: Which one is Better?

Hammock versus Tent: Which one is Better?Let’s discuss the hammock versus tent debate and see which is better. This article shows the pros and cons of sleeping in a hammock. You’ll also see the pros and cons of sleeping in a tent. After reading the hammock versus tent...

Best Shawnee Forest Biking Locations

Best Shawnee Forest Biking Locations

  Best Shawnee Forest Biking LocationsAre you searching for the best Shawnee Forest biking locations? Look no further. The Shawnee National Forest is a great cycling destination for all sorts of biker riders. Whether you’re into shredding down mountain bike...

5 Hiking Mistakes You Shouldn’t Be Making

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 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?

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 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 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 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...

Latest Trail Guides

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

Cove Hollow Trail – Cedar Lake – Shawnee National Forest

Cove Hollow Trail – Cedar Lake – Shawnee National Forest

Cove Hollow Trail Cedar Lake Shawnee National Forest Trail GuideCove Hollow Loop is a trail system located in the Shawnee National Forest near Pomona within the Cedar Lake area. This lollipop loop uses a combination of Cove Hollow and Wolfden Hollow trails. The total...

Shawnee National Forest Bear Branch Trail Guide

Shawnee National Forest Bear Branch Trail Guide

Shawnee National Forest Bear Branch Trail GuideShawnee National Forest Bear Branch Trail is a loop trail located in Pope County, Illinois. This trail consists of a 4.5-mile complete loop trail system shared by hikers and horseback riders. This trail has minimal...

Shawnee National Forest Iron Mountain Hiking Guide

Shawnee National Forest Iron Mountain Hiking Guide

Shawnee National Forest Iron Mountain Hiking GuideHave you ever been to Shawnee National Forest Iron Mountain? No, I don’t mean Iron Furnace, either. Shawnee National Forest Iron Mountain is located between Anna-Jonesboro and Alto Pass here in southern Illinois. This...

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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