A couple weeks ago, I came across this.


It was in the middle of the trail and I only had a few moments as I sped up to it (going downhill) to identify the head end, and went around its tail side. I then decided to get a photo, but he was really moving and was almost gone in the grass by the time I got out the phone to take a photo. He was maybe about 2 1/2 to 3 feet long. Rattlers are about all I see out here in So Cal, mostly diamondbacks with a red every once in a while, but the reds are too shy to hang out on the trail.

I've rolled over rattlers twice (not by choice ). One actually darted across the singletrack between the wheels; all I saw was a huge middle, it was so big, then thump.

Your snakes are definitely cooler looking though; we sure don't get water snakes out here.