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.
Red Cedar Backpacking Trip Video Guide
Red Cedar Backpacking Trip Video GuideThis summer, we backpacked the Red Cedar Trail at Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois. We took a two-day, one-night backpacking trip and also completed the Red Cedar Challenge during our stay.What You’ll See Along the Red...
Yaktrax Review for Winter Hiking
Yaktrax Review for Winter HikingHave you ever used Yaktrax on your hike before? This gear item securely attaches to your footwear to improve traction on snow and ice. Hiking in the winter often means increased dangers of slipping and falling. But Yaktrax can help...
How to Choose the Best Hiking Boots
How to Choose the Best Hiking BootsIt’s really important for you to choose the best hiking boots possible if you truly wish to enjoy your hiking experience. Not choosing the right hiking boots means trouble for you. You’ll get blisters, sore knees and ankles, and...
Indian Point Trail Video Guide
Indian Point Trail Video GuideIndian Point Trail is located within the Garden of the Gods Wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest near Herod, Illinois. This lollipop loop hiker-only trail will give you some of the most amazing views of the wilderness and the Shawnee...
10 Great Spots for Backpacking in Southern Illinois
10 Great Spots for Backpacking in Southern IllinoisYou should try backpacking in Southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest. The Shawnee National Forest and our local state parks offer great backpacking trails. You can do a simple overnight hike or a multi-day,...
Wolfden Hollow Trail Video Guide
Wolfden Hollow Trail Video GuideWolfden Hollow Trail is located within the Cedar Lake trail system in the Shawnee National Forest near Carbondale, Illinois. This lollipop loop trail offers many sights, including access to nearby Cedar Lake.What You’ll See on the...
Kincaid Mounds Visitor Guide
Kincaid Mounds Visitor GuideHave you ever been to Kincaid Mounds in Southern Illinois? I’m not talking about Cahokia Mounds, which features multiple mounds you can walk on and a visitor center. I'm talking about the smaller mound site located in rural Southern...
Indian Kitchen Trail Video Guide
Indian Kitchen Trail Video GuideIndian Kitchen Trail is located in Lusk Creek Wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. This out-and-back trail features amazing bluffs, Native American history, and the scenic Lusk Creek.What You’ll See on the...
SurviveX First Aid Kit Review for Hikers
SurviveX First Aid Kit Review for HikersHave you heard of the SurviveX first aid kit for hikers? It is always advisable to carry a first aid kit on your hikes. You never know when a mishap will occur on the hiking trail. Having the right emergency supplies will enable...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
One Horse Gap Video Guide
One Horse Gap Video GuideIn this video, we visit the One Horse Gap area of the Shawnee National Forest. We explore One Horse Gap, Rocky Top overlook, and the Story Cemetery, where a Cherokee woman is buried.What You’ll See at One Horse Gap There is a lot to see when...
Camp Cadiz Road Video Guide
Camp Cadiz Road Video GuideWe recently hiked a section of the Camp Cadiz Road near Camp Cadiz. We also hiked along an older historical section of the River to River Trail. We got to see quite a bit on this hike and also face quite a few challenges.What You’ll See...
Wickliffe Mounds Visitor Guide
Wickliffe Mounds Visitor GuideHave you ever heard of the Wickliffe Mounds State Historical Site in Wickliffe, Kentucky? This is a beautiful Kentucky State Historical Site to add to your bucket list. Not only will you get to see ancient Native American mounds,...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Impetro Gear Backpack: A Comprehensive Review
Impetro Gear Backpack: A Comprehensive ReviewThis is a review of the Impetro Gear Backpack. Just for full transparency, I use affiliate links in this review. That means I earn a commission for every sale made, but it doesn't impact your price. You can search for the...
Peak Refuel Meals Review
Peak Refuel Meals ReviewI'm usually a Mountain House Meals kind of guy, but I wanted to try something new, so I grabbed a couple of Peak Refuel Meals to try out on my last big camping trip. My wife and I went on our last big camping trip, which was to the Great Smoky...
RightOnTrek Breakfast Meal Review
RightOnTrek Breakfast Meal ReviewI tried something new this morning. I ate a RightOnTrek breakfast meal. It was Cheesy Mushroom Egg Scramble. The name alone made it sound so delicious. I love cheese. I love eggs. I really love mushrooms. But I never thought about...
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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