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.
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Hitching Post)
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Hitching Post)When most people think about Garden of the Gods, they think about the Observation Trail or Indian Point. No one ever really thinks about the other hiking opportunities around the...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Interstate Trail
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Interstate TrailThe Interstate Trail is a 1.6 mile trail that is very easy to hike. This is a horseback trail but is also open to hikers as well. There are some features to see on this trail including bluffs, a former school...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Schwegman Ecological Area & Groundhog Den
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Schwegman Ecological Area & Groundhog DenSchwegman Ecological Area and Groundhog Den are unique gems in the Shawnee National Forest. I’ve talked to the fella who used to live in these areas before the land was sold to the US...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Trigg Observation Tower
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Trigg Observation TowerTrigg Observation Tower is a former fire watch observation tower located in the Shawnee National Forest near Simpson, Illinois. Trigg Observation Tower was originally about 100 foot in height but half of...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Millstone Bluff
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Millstone BluffMillstone Bluff is a day-use recreational site within the Shawnee National Forest located near Simpson in southern Illinois. This site is fairly easy to navigate and hike and is appropriate for younger users and...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Piney Creek Ravine
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Piney Creek RavinePiney Creek Ravine, while well known, is a sort of hidden gem in southern Illinois. It is located on the west side of the state near Ava, Illinois and provides a wonderful hiking opportunity as well as an...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Bell Smith Springs
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Bell Smith SpringsBell Smith Springs is truly a magical place of the Shawnee National Forest. It is home to a popular diving and swimming hole, the largest arch in southern Illinois, iconic rock formations that are even...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Garden of the Gods Observation Trail
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Garden of the Gods Observation TrailGarden of the Gods Observation Trail is said to be the most Instagram’d area of the Shawnee National Forest. Chances are, if you’ve been to southern Illinois for hiking, you’ve hiked on the...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Pounds Hollow Recreational Area
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Pounds Hollow Recreation AreaPounds Hollow Recreational Area is a great spot to visit in the Shawnee National Forest because of the many things to do in the area. Aside from the obvious hiking activities, there are also camping...
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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