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 go Hiking in the Rain
How to go Hiking in the RainDoe the very idea of hiking in the rain scare you or make you think it’s too dangerous to do? What if I told you that hiking in the rain could be as safe as hiking in any condition and make for a much better hiking experience? Hiking in the...
Trail of Tears State Forest Campground Review
Illinois Campground Review: Trail of Tears State Forest Campground Jonesboro, IllinoisTrail of Tears State Forest Campground is located in Jonesboro, Union County, in the southern Illinois region. Class C (tent with vehicle access) and Class D (tent with backpacker...
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...
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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