Although rattlesnakes are not widespread throughout the state, they have found suitable habitat throughout Washington. Western rattlesnake (oregano rattlesnake), also known as the North Pacific rattlesnake, spends most of its life without encountering humans. Despite its elusiveness, its range overlaps with popular recreational spots such as Sun Lakes Dry Falls State Park and the trails around Lake Chelan. Hikers sometimes encounter rattlesnakes coiled up and basking on the side of the trail. This article looks at seven areas in Washington State where rattlesnake sightings are common.
Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest
The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is one of the largest national forests in the Pacific Northwest. It spans approximately 4 million acres along the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains, stretching south from the Canadian border to Goat Rocks Nature Preserve, one of eight nature preserves within the forest. Its geographic range extends from alpine regions above 9,000 feet (more than 70 inches of annual precipitation) to arid scrub habitats with less than 10 inches of precipitation.
The western rattlesnake is one of the northernmost rattlesnakes in the United States. People living in the mountains of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest have adapted to long, cold winters by nesting in groups, sometimes in groups of hundreds. They return to the same burrow every year and may even share the same burrow with other non-venomous snake species.
Sun Lakes – Dry Falls State Park
Sun Lakes Dry Falls State Park is approximately 4,000 acres and features 73,640 feet of freshwater shoreline at the base of its namesake, Dry Falls. Dry Falls are one of North America’s geological highlights. This former waterfall is 400 feet tall and 5.5 miles wide. It is estimated that by the time it dried up, it had flowed several times the amount of current Niagara Falls. It is now a desert park used by hikers, kayakers, canoeists, and campers.
Continuing the hike, visitors pass basalt cliffs that are a favorite habitat for western rattlesnakes. Talus and basalt rock outcrops serve as overwintering burrows. Rattlesnakes are usually found outdoors in the morning or partially covered by rocks as they warm up in the sun.
klickitat river
The Klickitat River rises near Gilbert Peak and flows approximately 156 miles south to its confluence with the Columbia River in the Columbia River Gorge. It is often cited as one of the longest free-flowing rivers in Washington state. The river flows through a wide canyon in its upper reaches, gradually narrowing as it approaches the Columbia River. The lower Klickitat River offers a variety of recreational opportunities including boating, fishing, hiking, and camping.
The Klickitat Trail follows the river and offers views of the river and its canyon. The Klickitat River corridor is largely isolated and undeveloped, making it a strong habitat for a variety of plants and animals, including rattlesnakes. Trail precautions in rattlesnake country include staying on empty, open sections of the trail and using trekking poles to push back brush that extends into the path.
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park spans over 7,000 acres and features one of the most important petrified forest sites in the United States. Ginkgo is one of the oldest tree species in the world. They were mineralized into rock during massive lava flows that swept into the interior of the northwest. This terrain is typical western rattlesnake habitat and is a semi-arid scrub grassland with basalt formations.
Western rattlesnakes are often seen foraging in the sagebrush thickets of the park. Western rattlesnakes typically live in scrub grasslands as their primary habitat, but they can also be found in white oak, ponderosa pine, and other open forest types. They are active during the day when temperatures are mild, but shift to nocturnal habits during the warmest months.
Columbia Hills Historic State Park
Columbia Hills Historic State Park is the site of a former Native American village. The park occupies 3,338 acres on Horsethief Lake, a Columbia River reservoir. Visitors have access to more than 12 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, 2 miles of freshwater shoreline for swimming and boating, and Native American pictographs and petroglyphs.
This terrain is typical Western rattlesnake habitat, with a panorama of scrub-grassland ecosystems and high desert. Rattlesnakes live in the park, but encounters are rare. People are more likely to encounter nonvenomous bullsnakes (Pitu Office Catenifer), which have similar colors and markings to rattlesnakes and are sometimes mistaken for rattlesnakes.
Lake Chelan
Lake Chelan is an 80.5-mile-long glacial lake in north-central Washington. Lake Chelan State Park, located on the south shore of the lake, is one of Washington’s most popular state parks. The lake itself extends well beyond the boundaries of the state park, reaching all the way to the North Cascades at its northern tip. The region enjoys more than 300 sunny days a year. Visitors use the lake and surrounding park for biking, swimming, fishing, camping, and hiking.
The Lake Chelan Shore Trail is a 27-mile thru-hike with views of wildflowers, snow-capped mountains, and the lake itself. At the end of the season, as the weather warms, the trails can be hot and dry. At this time of year, hikers take advantage of trail exposures to sunbathe and may encounter rattlesnakes.
columbia river gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon formed by the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. The canyon stretches 130 miles through the Cascade Mountains and is the largest national scenic spot in the United States. Its topography is diverse, including temperate rainforests, high deserts, rivers below sea level, and alpine meadows. Elevations range from basalt cliffs more than 4,000 feet above the river to hiking trails that wind through lowland forests and wildflower meadows.
Beneath the bunchgrass and basalt rocks, rattlesnakes exist silently within the canyon, almost invisible. That doesn’t mean they aren’t ecologically active. They play a role in controlling rodent populations and balancing local food webs. Rattlesnakes sometimes appear along hiking trails on the Washington side of the canyon.
Washington rattlesnake hotbed
Although encountering a rattlesnake is rare, awareness and basic precautions are important when enjoying recreation in rattlesnake country. They tend to be most active in the early morning hours before the sun gets too hot, but you never know when you’ll find them coiled on the edge as you round a corner on a trail. In the seven areas listed above, which have more rattlesnake sightings than most areas in the state, you can cover most of what you need to do to recreate safely by checking for logs and rocks before stepping on them and following clearly marked trails.
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