Hiking with Shawn

Welcome to Hiking with Shawn, your premiere source for trail guides, services, hiking tips, and resources for adventuring in the Shawnee National Forest and State Parks in Southern Illinois.

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Latest Blog Posts from Hiking with Shawn

Check out the latest blog posts from Hiking with Shawn. Be sure to head over to my main blog for access to all my posts.

How to Choose the Best Hiking Daypack

How to Choose the Best Hiking Daypack

How to Choose the Best Hiking DaypackAre you looking for the best hiking daypack possible? It’s essential to find a suitable daypack for several reasons. You want to be comfortable on your hike. You want to be free of pain. You especially want convenience while out on...

10 Easy Summer Hiking Trails in Southern Illinois

10 Easy Summer Hiking Trails in Southern Illinois

10 Easy Summer Hiking Trails in Southern IllinoisAre you looking for easy summer hiking trails in Southern Illinois? Many people decide not to hike in the summer because they imagine all the trails are in bad shape and covered in biting bugs. As a result, they miss...

Kinkaid Spillway Trail Guide

Kinkaid Spillway Trail Guide

Kinkaid Spillway Trail GuideIf you haven’t hiked the Kinkaid Spillway Trail yet, you’re missing out. The Kinkaid Spillway Trail is a moderately rugged out-and-back hike of less than one mile located at the Kinkaid Lake Spillway near the City of Murphysboro, Illinois....

Latest Local Hiking Trail Guides

Check out the hiking, cycling, and kayaking Trail Guides by Hiking with Shawn. Visit my Main Trail Guides page to see all the guides.

Hughes Mountain Natural Area Guide

Hughes Mountain Natural Area Guide

Hughes Mountain Natural Area GuideHave you been to Hughes Mountain Natural Area in Irondale, Missouri, yet? This natural area is probably one of my favorite hiking trails in the state of Missouri. It’s managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation and features...

Big Rocky Hollow Trail Guide

Big Rocky Hollow Trail Guide

Big Rocky Hollow Trail GuideThe Big Rocky Hollow Trail is also considered the “main waterfall” trail at Ferne Clyffe State Park near Goreville, Illinois. This is an easy trail located within the state park that features multiple waterfalls, bluffs, additional hiking...

Honker Lake Loop Trail Guide

Honker Lake Loop Trail Guide

Honker Lake Loop Trail GuideHonker Lake Loop Trail is a 5-mile loop hiking trail located within the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky. This loop hiking trail is available on the All Trails app. (Affiliate Link) This easy-to-moderately...

Latest Gear Reviews by Hiking with Shawn

Check out the latest hiking, cycling, and kayaking gear reviews by Hiking with Shawn. Visit my Main Gear Reviews page to see all my reviews.

Men’s Merrell Crosslander 3 Low Hiking Boots Review

Men’s Merrell Crosslander 3 Low Hiking Boots Review

Men's Merrell Crosslander 3 Low Hiking Boots ReviewThis is my review of the Men's Merrell Crosslander 3 Low Hiking Boots! These versatile shoes, marketed as low hiking boots but more akin to hiking shoes, have been my trusted companions for a few months now. I'm...

Impetro Gear Backpack: A Comprehensive Review

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 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...

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