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.
Durable Hiking Footwear: How to choose the right hiking shoes for you!
Durable Hiking Footwear: How to choose the right hiking shoes for you!Durable hiking footwear is a topic that I am asked about a lot. It is important to keep your feet comfortable, dry and protected from the elements that you hike in. If you don’t have durable hiking...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Rocky Bluff Trail & Wild Turkey Trail
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Rocky Bluff Trail & Wild Turkey TrailThe Rocky Bluff Trail and Wild Turkey Trail is a part of the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge system. They are actually some of the few areas you can hike at within the refuge. A...
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Ferne Clyffe State Park
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Ferne Clyffe State ParkFerne Clyffe State Park is a very beautiful and scenic Illinois state park located in the center of the southern Illinois region. Ferne Clyffe State Park offers a little something just about every type of...
Hiking with Shawn’s Ultimate Safety Guide for Safely Enjoying the Shawnee National Forest
Hiking with Shawn’s Ultimate Safety Guide For Safely Enjoying the Shawnee National ForestWelcome to the Ultimate Safety Guide for Safely Enjoying the Shawnee National Forest, created by Hiking with Shawn. While Hiking with Shawn supports the efforts and management...
Giant City State Park Trail Guide
Hiking with Shawn’s Trail Guide Series: Giant City State ParkThis guide concentrates on the entire hiking trail inventory of Giant City State Park. Giant City State Park is located south of Carbondale and resides in both Jackson and Union counties in the town of...
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...
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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