21 Common Hiking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them Common hiking mistakes can turn an enjoyable outdoor adventure into a stressful or even dangerous experience. Picture yourself lost on a trail, dehydrated, or battling blisters because of poor preparation—these scenarios...
Giant City Gnome Roam 2024 Have you done the Giant City Gnome Roam yet? The Giant City Gnome Roam is an annual event put on by Giant City State Park in Makanda, Illinois. The event consists of finding 7 gnome cutouts in order to earn a free Gnome Roam patch. You can...
30 Places to Hike in Southern Illinois During Hunting Season Are you looking for places to hike in Southern Illinois during hunting season? Firearm hunting season in Southern Illinois starts soon. During that time, avoid anywhere there might be hunters. It’s...
How to Plan Your First Multi-Day Backpacking Trip Are you hoping to go on your first multi-day backpacking trip? A multi-day backpacking trip involves hiking for multiple days and camping along the trail. It can be challenging and hard work, but it can also be a very...
15 Southern Illinois Fall Color Spots for Fall 2024 Are you looking for Southern Illinois Fall Color Spots to visit this fall? There are so many throughout the region that it’s hard to choose just one. But I’m here with 15 awesome spots for you to choose...
The Shawnee Challenge Turns 3! Three years ago this month, I came up with an idea called The Shawnee Challenge. I got the idea for it by seeing a similar challenge in the Ozark National Scenic Riverways in Missouri. I was able to get approval from partnering agencies...
