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.
Lower Cache River Area Guide
Lower Cache River Area GuideThe Lower Cache River area is a section of the Cache River State Natural Area that might not be as often visited as much as places like Heron Pond and Wildcat Bluff. It’s a wonderful area that truly offers multiple types of outdoor...
How Hard is it to Hike Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest?
How Hard is it to Hike Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest?Is it hard to hike Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest? The short answer is YES and NO. The long answer is the information below, which I have collected in an effort to show any...
10 Outdoor Activities to do in the Shawnee National Forest
10 Outdoor Activities to do in the Shawnee National ForestThere are many different types of outdoor activities to do in the Shawnee National Forest. Most of these outdoor activities are free, too. You just need to show up with your gear or the required method and then...
Hiking to the Bottom of Owl Bluff in Lusk Creek Wilderness
Hiking to the Bottom of Owl Bluff in Lusk Creek WildernessWe recently hiked to the bottom of Owl Bluff in the Lusk Creek Wilderness of the Shawnee National Forest. Even though it was during leaf-off, this wasn’t an easy hike. We had to hike a few miles of the trail...
Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Northeast Corner)
Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Northeast Corner)I recently published a video that depicts the very northeast area of the Garden of the Gods Wilderness. I was scrolling through my map app (OnX Hunt) one day and realized it was an area of Garden of the Gods Wilderness...
A Year-End Review of Adventure with Hiking with Shawn in 2024
A Year-End Review of Adventure with Hiking with Shawn in 2024Welcome to my Year-End Review of Hiking with Shawn. I used to make year-end review videos, which I called Rewinds after YouTube Rewinds. But it takes time to do those and better planning, which I need to...
Dispersed Camping in the Shawnee National Forest
Dispersed Camping in the Shawnee National Forest: What You Need to Know Before You GoDispersed camping in the Shawnee National Forest offers a unique escape, but without the right preparation, it can quickly turn from a dream into a challenge. The lack of amenities...
21 Common Hiking Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
21 Common Hiking Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemCommon 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
Giant City Gnome Roam 2024Have 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 do...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Lower Cache River Area Guide
Lower Cache River Area GuideThe Lower Cache River area is a section of the Cache River State Natural Area that might not be as often visited as much as places like Heron Pond and Wildcat Bluff. It’s a wonderful area that truly offers multiple types of outdoor...
Hiking to the Bottom of Owl Bluff in Lusk Creek Wilderness
Hiking to the Bottom of Owl Bluff in Lusk Creek WildernessWe recently hiked to the bottom of Owl Bluff in the Lusk Creek Wilderness of the Shawnee National Forest. Even though it was during leaf-off, this wasn’t an easy hike. We had to hike a few miles of the trail...
Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Northeast Corner)
Garden of the Gods Wilderness (Northeast Corner)I recently published a video that depicts the very northeast area of the Garden of the Gods Wilderness. I was scrolling through my map app (OnX Hunt) one day and realized it was an area of Garden of the Gods Wilderness...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
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 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...
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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