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.
How to Survive after getting Lost in the Woods
How to Survive after getting Lost in the WoodsGetting lost in the woods might be one of the greatest fears of many hikers. It is a reasonable fear because many hikers yearly get lost in the woods. Some hikers don’t make it as they die from the elements, falling, or...
Shawnee National Forest Geocaching Guide
Shawnee National Forest Geocaching GuideShawnee National Forest geocaching lets you enjoy a hike around the forest while also going on a treasure-hunting adventure. But there is a little more to geocaching than it seems. You want to make sure you’re doing it the right...
Shawnee Forest Guided Hiking & Itinerary Services
Shawnee Forest Guided Hiking & Itinerary ServicesAre you looking for Shawnee Forest Guided Hiking and Itinerary Services by chance? I offer these services if you need them. I’m a permitted hiking guide outfitter for the Shawnee National Forest. I’m also insured,...
3 Easy Shawnee National Forest Kayaking Destinations
3 Easy Shawnee National Forest Kayaking DestinationsAre you looking for Shawnee National Forest kayaking destinations? The Shawnee National Forest and state parks in southern Illinois are filled with different lakes, creeks, and rivers that make perfect kayaking and...
Shawnee Forest Bigfoot: Legends and Reality
Shawnee Forest Bigfoot: Legends and RealityHave you ever heard of the Shawnee Forest Bigfoot? There are several different bigfoot topics when it comes to the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. Some are for tourism purposes. Some are legends. Some are...
Why do you Hike?
Why do you Hike?Why do you hike? Hiking means many different things to many other people. You might hike for a specific goal. It might be for fitness reasons. Maybe it’s for your mental health. What is the reason that you have chosen to hike for?I hike for a few...
Hiking with Shawn Patreon
Hiking with Shawn PatreonAre you looking for a way to support Hiking with Shawn even more than you’re already doing just by being a fan?I welcome you to join my Patreon page to help support me. My Patreon Page offers daily discussions with me, exclusive videos and...
How to Hike in the Snow
How to Hike in the SnowSome people are terrified to hike in the snow. Some don’t because it’s too cold. Some people will hike in the snow but not the ice. Hiking in the snow or ice, for that matter, isn’t always a bad thing. You can see a lot of cool stuff during...
Outdoor Freelance Work
Outdoor Freelance WorkDid you know I provide outdoor freelance work? I’ve been interested in and practicing various digital marketing, content creation, writing, and social media activities for the past twenty-five years. I’ve always been interested in maintaining the...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Bulge Hole Ecological Area
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Bulge Hole Ecological AreaBulge Hole Ecological Area or Bulge Hole EA for short is a wonderful hidden gem of the Shawnee National Forest. The ecological aspects of Bulge Hole deals with precious plants and flora that could be...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Packentuck Waterfalls
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Packentuck WaterfallsPackentuck Waterfalls are a series of unofficial trails located in the Shawnee National Forest off Packentuck Road. This area borders private property as well as Camp Ondessonk so a map/app with boundary...
Ultimate Trail Guide: Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area
Hiking with Shawn’s Ultimate Trail Guide Series: Bell Smith Springs Recreation AreaBell Smith Springs Recreation Area is a popular recreation area of the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. It contains over 8-miles of various types of hiking trails and many...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
No Results Found
The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
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.
Copyright © 2025 Hiking with Shawn™ All Rights Are Reserved.
Hiking with Shawn® is a Registered Trademark of Hiking with Shawn, LLC
Hiking with Shawn is not affiliated with any local, state, or federal government agency.