Rattlesnake Warning: What Hikers in Western Colorado Should Know

Western Slope rattlesnakes tend to become active in Colorado by late March or early April. Have you encountered rattlesnakes on hiking trails near Grand Junction or Montrose? Hit the chat button on our station app to tell us where.

Read More: Colorado's Top 3 Largest and Most Dangerous Snakes

Rising temperatures and snowmelt signal to rattlesnakes that it is time to start moving. Keep reading to learn ways to avoid rattlesnakes on Western Colorado trails, and which trails are prone to these snakes.

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Rattlesnake Safety While Hiking

One of the best ways to avoid rattlesnakes on the Western Slope is to stick to trails with clear and wide walking paths. Wandering off into tall grass and brush increases the risk of encountering a rattlesnake. Placing hands and feet in areas you can't see is a great way to be surprised by a rattlesnake. The same caution goes for dogs.

Known Rattlesnake-Prone Trails in Grand Junction

• 🐍 Lunch Loops / Tabeguache Trails (Grand Junction)
• ⚠ Rattlesnakes love rocky, sun-exposed terrain and high desert.
• 👀 Keep a watchful eye out near rocky ledges in the area of the Gunny Loop and Holy Cross sections of these trails.
  

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• 🐍 Devils Canyon (Fruita)
• ⚠ Rattlesnakes love these canyon trails because there are lots of rocky outcroppings and the area is soaked in sunshine.
• 👀 Keep a watchful eye on shaded and brushy portions of these trails, and anywhere you see loose rock.
  

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• 🐍 Dominguez Canyon Wilderness (Bridgeport Trailhead south of Whitewater)
• ⚠ These canyons are loaded with desert brush and rock piles, which snakes love
• 👀 Snakes on this trail are usually spotted along the Gunnison River corridor
  

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• 🐍 Bang’s Canyon Area (south of Grand Junction)
• ⚠ The rocky terrain on BLM land is a habitat that snakes and desert wildlife love.
• 👀 Rattlesnakes can be found near trail junctions and the narrow rock slots south of Grand Junction

Read More: Witness Colorado Rattlesnakes Live In Their Natural Habitat

Known Rattlesnake-Prone Trails in Montrose

• 🐍 Dry Creek Area Trails (near Montrose)
• ⚠ Rattlensakes in the Montrose area love the open-space trails at lower elevations, full of brush and sage.
• 👀 Be careful during the early morning and late afternoon hours in the Dry Creek area, as snakes are often on the move here during the summer.