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.
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...
10 Kayaking Gift Ideas to Get this Holiday Season
10 Kayaking Gift Ideas to Get this Holiday SeasonDo you need kayaking gift ideas this holiday season? Is there a special kayaker in your life that you want to treat? Look no further! In this article, you’ll see ten great kayaking Christmas gift ideas for that special...
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...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Wildcat Bluff
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Wildcat BluffWildcat Bluff is a nestled little gem of the Cache River State Natural Area managed by Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Located in rural Johnson County, Illinois-this amazing place offers hikers views of...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Heron Pond
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Heron PondHeron Pond Preserve is a special gem of the southern Illinois region. Located in rural Johnson County, Heron Pond provides a look into what the area once looked like before pioneer settlers came in and drained the...
Panther Den Wilderness Guide
Hiking with Shawn’s Guide to the Wilderness Areas of the Shawnee National Forest: Panther Den WildernessPanther Den Wilderness is a 1,195-acre designated wilderness area within the Shawnee National Forest. Panther Den Wilderness is the smallest wilderness area within...
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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