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.
Jackson Falls Recreation Area
Jackson Falls Recreation AreaThe US Forest Service has created a Jackson Falls Recreation Area StoryMap for the public to read and comment on. The StoryMap outlines a potential effort to make Jackson Falls a better place for visitors. For many years, it's been...
10 Great Things About the Shawnee National Forest
10 Great Things About the Shawnee National ForestIn appreciation of National Forest Week, I'd love to share 10 great things about the Shawnee National Forest that I think will make you love it even more. The Shawnee National Forest is tiny compared to other...
Top 10 Places for Herping in Southern Illinois
Top 10 Places for Herping in Southern IllinoisAre you looking for good herping in Southern Illinois? Get ready for an exhilarating adventure! This article is your gateway to the many thrilling spots across Southern Illinois, where you can discover and observe herps...
Round Bluff Nature Preserve Guide
Round Bluff Nature Preserve GuideRound Bluff Nature Preserve is a hiking trail within a protected Illinois Nature Preserve located within Ferne Clyffe State Park in Goreville, Illinois. This is a guide for the trail and area surrounding the nature preserve. See my...
10 Cool Hiking Spots in Southern Illinois to Enjoy this Summer
10 Cool Hiking Spots in Southern Illinois to Enjoy this SummerIt’s a scorcher out there, and cool hiking spots in Southern Illinois are what you need to enjoy the outdoors this summer. Lucky for you, I’ve spent years finding the best places to beat the heat and still...
Top 10 Summer Hiking Hazards in the Shawnee National Forest
Top 10 Summer Hiking Hazards in the Shawnee National ForestThere are many summer hiking hazards not only in the Shawnee National Forest but any other natural area you visit. Now, you can hide inside and avoid the trail in the summer if you live in fear. However, you...
10 Places Where to Swim in Southern Illinois
10 Places Where to Swim in Southern IllinoisAre you trying to find out where to swim in Southern Illinois? It’s after Memorial Day, so all the swimming opportunities are now open. But where to go? That’s the question. There are beaches. There are pools. There are even...
10 Southern Illinois Summer Hikes to Enjoy in 2024
10 Southern Illinois Summer Hikes to Enjoy in 2024Are you looking for some good Southern Illinois summer hikes this year? Just because it’s summer doesn't mean you have to quit hiking. There are still plenty of great spots to go that aren’t overgrown or full of...
10 Family Outdoor Itineraries in the Shawnee National Forest
10 Family Outdoor Itineraries in the Shawnee National ForestAre you looking for family outdoor itineraries in the Shawnee National Forest? You’ve come to the right place. I have 10 different outdoor itineraries made for families visiting the region. These plans cater...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Franks Tract Loop in Lusk Creek Wilderness
Franks Tract Loop in Lusk Creek WildernessThe Franks Tract Loop in Lusk Creek Wilderness is a 6.7-mile loop that promises a breathtaking hiking adventure, a journey that I and Michelle savored this summer. This trail, a blend of different designated trails within the...
Round Bluff Nature Preserve Guide
Round Bluff Nature Preserve GuideRound Bluff Nature Preserve is a hiking trail within a protected Illinois Nature Preserve located within Ferne Clyffe State Park in Goreville, Illinois. This is a guide for the trail and area surrounding the nature preserve. See my...
Mill Branch Trail Guide
Mill Branch Trail Guide Mill Branch Trail is one of the most unique hiking trails in the Shawnee National Forest. (Moderate – 1.8 miles – Loop)There’s no other trail quite like Mill Branch. This trail can be accessed at Bell Smith Springs in the Shawnee National...
Latest Gear Reviews
Check out my latest outdoor gear reviews posted in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
MPG Cycling Shorts Review
MPG Cycling Shorts ReviewYes, I am a Cyclist... I've been an adult cyclist since 2012 after realizing that I was 300 pounds of fat and laziness. I would become out of breath bending down to tie my own shoes - no joke! So I got a bicycle and started riding every other...
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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