POMONA (WSIL) -- We're heading back out "On The Trail" to highlight some fun ways you can enjoy the outdoors this summer.
Our first trail of the season is Pomona Natural Bridge with special guest Shawn Gossman. Gossman is quite famous in southern Illinois for his YouTube channel "Hiking with Shawn."
"I go by 'Hiking with Shawn' on YouTube. That's where I started out. I just started hiking, to make a long story short, for fitness. I thought I'd throw a couple videos on the internet and YouTube, and it turned into something way bigger. I get to help with tourism, and we're here at Pomona Natural Bridge because this trail is easy and fun for the whole family. I think it's a great place to start," explains Gossman.
Pomona Natural Bridge Trail is located near Pomona, Illinois and is a moderately trafficked loop under a half-mile long. The bridge, made of sandstone, is 90 feet long and over 8 feet wide at its widest point.
"I'm not a environmental scientist, but erosion and ocean and everything you've learned is what caused that. I've seen books where this bridge is in black and white photos, and people are in their Sunday church clothes back when that was proper hiking attire."
But if you're thinking about hitting the trail, you probably don't want to head out in your Sunday best.
"Definitely take plenty of water, something to drink, snack, wear bug spray. Look into a chemical called permethrin because southern Illinois is good about ticks. Definitely use tick spray and always put safety first," says Gossman.
Shawn says one of his favorite things about his YouTube channel is promoting southern Illinois. "I was born and raised here, and anything I can do to make southern Illinois better. Get outside, that's what I recommend you do. I'm definitely an advocate of nature."
For more on "Hiking with Shawn," click . For more information on Pomona Natural Bridge, click .听
