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.
Top 10 Spring Hikes in the Shawnee National Forest
Top 10 Spring Hikes in the Shawnee National ForestAre you as ready for spring hikes in the Shawnee National Forest as I am? It’s when the wildflowers start to bloom, and the green slowly starts to return to the vast Shawnee National Forest. I’m just about ready to go...
The Outdoor Economic Summit
The Outdoor Economic SummitAbout a week ago or so, I sat in on the Outdoor Economic Summit at SIU’s Touch of Nature Educational Center in Makanda. It was put on by the folks at Southern Illinois Now, which is an organization with an aim to help people move to, stay...
Hiking Gear Essentials: What to Pack for Your Next Adventure
Hiking Gear Essentials: What to Pack for Your Next AdventureAre you carrying the important hiking gear essentials with you on your day hikes? The last thing you want to do is get stranded in the forest and not have the right tools to keep you safe and sound while you...
Ultralight Backpacking Guide
Ultralight Backpacking GuideUltralight backpacking is a type of multi-day hiking that emphasizes bringing less amounts of gear and focusing on lighter-weight items. The idea of going backpacking with ultralight in mind is for when you want to go faster, travel...
13 Different Types of Hiking to Try Today
13 Different Types of Hiking to Try TodayThere are many different types of hiking styles to choose from. Whether you’re into day hiking, backpacking, or specialized hiking, there is a style of hiking that is best for you. You might find yourself trying out many...
Top 10 Hiking with Shawn Videos in 2023
Top 10 Hiking with Shawn Videos to Watch TodayReady for the top 10 most viewed Hiking with Shawn videos in 2023? Now that 2024 is here – let’s rewind back to last year and see what videos were the best that I put out. I always like to review this sort of thing just to...
How to Hike in the Winter: Your Ultimate Winter Hiking Guide
How to Hike in the Winter: Your Ultimate Winter Hiking GuideDo you hike in the winter? Many do. Some don’t. For those that do hike during the winter, they enjoy many different benefits of winter hiking. Those benefits include fewer biting bugs, most snakes are asleep,...
10 Amazing Southern Illinois Frozen Waterfalls Away from Crowds
10 Amazing Southern Illinois Frozen Waterfalls Away from the CrowdsTis the season for Southern Illinois frozen waterfalls. As I’m writing this post, the temperature outside feels like -6 degrees. What does that mean aside from it being dangerously cold? It means water...
How to Start Backpacking: A Guide to Multi-Day Hiking for Beginners
How to Start Backpacking: A Guide to Multi-Day Hiking for BeginnersBackpacking is a great way to fall in love with outdoor recreation. This is especially true if you already enjoy camping and hiking. You’re simply combining the two activities together and enjoying...
Latest Trail Guides
Check out the latest trail guides published in the Hiking with Shawn Blog.
Cache River State Natural Area Guide
Cache River State Natural Area GuideCache River State Natural Area is a nearly 15,000-acre Illinois state natural area with ample opportunities for fish and game, outdoor recreation, and educational programming. Visitors can enjoy miles upon miles of hiking, biking,...
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,...
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...
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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