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.
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area Guide
Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area GuideHave you ever visited Mermet Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area in southern Illinois? It's an amazing spot for all different kinds of recreational uses. Whether you're a boater, kayaker, fisherman, hunter, cyclist, hiker,...
Waterfall Safety Tips for Hikers and Backpackers
Waterfall Safety Tips for Hikers and BackpackersInstead of just throwing out a couple of waterfall safety tips, I wanted to create this guide for you to consume. Where I come from, the Shawnee National Forest, we’ve had our fair share of severe injuries and even...
Abneyville Rock Trail Guide
Abneyville Rock Trail GuideThe Abneyville Rock Trail is a short but very remote hiking trail located in the northwestern Shawnee National Forest near Sand Ridge, with the closest city being Murphysboro. The trail is around four miles out-and-back and has roughly 600...
Bork Falls to Cedar Bluff Hiking Guide
Bork Falls to Cedar Bluff Hiking GuideHave you ever hiked Bork Falls to Cedar Bluff (or reverse)? If you haven’t yet, and you’re looking for a nice long out-and-back hike, this would be an excellent hiking trip for you to enjoy. This hike is around 10 miles out and...
Lake Glendale Recreation Area Guide
Lake Glendale Recreation Area GuideLake Glendale Recreation Area has something for everyone, and it’s located in a central part of the Shawnee National Forest that, gives you easier access to many great areas around the forest and southern Illinois. Lake Glendale is...
2023 Friends of the Shawnee Polar Plunge
2023 Friends of the Shawnee National Forest Polar PlungePlease Support Hiking with Shawn Alrighty folks, I hope you have enjoyed this content. I provide it for free and it takes a while to create. If you would be so kind enough to support my efforts, you can do so by...
What to Wear Hiking: Your Complete Guide
What to Wear Hiking: Your Complete GuideDo you want to know what to wear hiking? You shouldn't wear your everyday clothes on a hiking trip. It could result in a bad trip. You wouldn't think about that until it was too late. But the right clothes to wear hiking is an...
No More Daily Blogs
No More Daily BlogsHowdy folks! Daily blogging is doable, but it requires more allocation of time and resources. I’ve ultimately decided not to do daily blogs anymore. But never fear – I still plan to blog on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That’s still more than I...
Please Take My Guided Hiking Services Survey
Please Take My Guided Hiking Services SurveyI’m entertaining the idea of going full-time as a hiking guide for the Shawnee National Forest and state parks. Right now, I do it on the weekends. I’m interested in what you, my followers, and my friends think about this...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
One Horse Gap Hiking Guide – Shawnee National Forest
One Horse Gap Hiking Guide for the Shawnee National ForestOne Horse Gap is a beautiful area located in the Shawnee National Forest. There are ample hiking opportunities available at this location. Other great activities in this area include fishing, paddling,...
Little Grand Canyon Trail Guide – Shawnee National Forest
Little Grand Canyon Trail Guide Shawnee National ForestLittle Grand Canyon is a popular day hiking loop trail located on the western side of the Shawnee National Forest near Carbondale, Illinois. This is a full loop hike of about 3.5-miles total. The best way to hike...
Pomona Natural Bridge Guide – Shawnee National Forest
Pomona Natural Bridge Guide Shawnee National ForestPomona Natural Bridge is a popular natural bluff feature located near Pomona, Illinois, in the Shawnee National Forest, Mississippi Bluff Ranger District. Pomona Natural Bridge is a moderately difficult loop trail...
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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