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.

Ultimate Trail Guide: Bell Smith Springs Recreation Area

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...

Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Wildcat Bluff

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 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

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...

Lusk Creek Wilderness Guide

Lusk Creek Wilderness Guide

Hiking with Shawn’s Guide to the Wilderness Areas of the Shawnee National Forest: Lusk Creek WildernessLusk Creek Wilderness is a 6,293-acre designated wilderness area within the Shawnee National Forest. Lusk Creek Wilderness is the largest wilderness area for the...

Garden of the Gods Wilderness Guide

Garden of the Gods Wilderness Guide

Hiking with Shawn’s Guide to the Wilderness Areas of the Shawnee National Forest: Garden of the Gods WildernessGarden of the Gods Wilderness is a 3,318-acre designated wilderness area within the Shawnee National Forest. Garden of the Gods Wilderness is located in...

Clear Springs Wilderness Guide

Clear Springs Wilderness Guide

Hiking with Shawn’s Guide to the Wilderness Areas of the Shawnee National Forest: Clear Springs WildernessClear Springs Wilderness is a 4,730-acre designated wilderness area within the Shawnee National Forest located in rural southwestern Jackson and northwestern...

Burden Falls Wilderness Guide

Burden Falls Wilderness Guide

Hiking with Shawn’s Guide to the Wilderness Areas of the Shawnee National Forest: Burden Falls WildernessBurden Falls Wilderness is a Designated Wilderness Area within the Shawnee National Forest. This wilderness area consists of 3,775-acres and is located in...

Latest Trail Guides

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

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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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