Just ran into a massive rattlesnake on the maze loop while trail running

I think I ran into this same snake 🐍 on the same part of the trail you’re describing last week. His coloring blended so well with the sand that I never would have seen him without the warning rattle. Luckily wasn’t wearing headphones and stopped dead in my tracks, less than 10ft from the coiled danger noodle with 8-10 rattles. Stay vigilant fellow hikers!

Picture & Location

"common" is difficult to say. I've gone some seasons never seeing a snake, and other seasons where it's like every week I see one. snakes don't consider people, they go wherever. they will hang out in the middle of the road too getting some sun.

We used to live up against one of the mountains in the area (can’t recall the name). And we would come across them every week. The King Snake we had patrolling the yard was very happy with the rattlers.

Very common this time of year.

They’re very common this time of year, especially in the afternoon. They tend to come out more the hotter it is; they like to stretch out and soak up the warmth.

No step on snek

I love running the maze loop! I haven’t seen a rattler on the trails yet this season (plenty of non-venomous ones though, more than last year)

I have this thing that each year upon seeing my first snake of the season (regardless of species) I stick to roads until October/November. It’s not fun but I have a semi-irrational fear of the creatures.

My friend and I ran into not one, but two rattle snakes in the same day hiking Joshua tree in 2017.

I was there at the end of April and saw 2 speckled and 1 western diamondback over 3 days. Tis the season, watch where you're stepping.

It’s purely seasonal. For myself, I stop visiting around May 1 and don’t resume until January. They own the place, we are just visiting.

I’ve hiked the park for years and only recently came across a rattlesnake while backpacking last week. I wasn’t on a trail though so that was probably a factor.

Oh yes it’s the time of the season. I heard one recently and ran before I could see it, lol.

Ran into a few rattlesnakes myself on a week long trip a few weeks ago.   Two at the oasis and one at Wall St mill.  Almost stepped on that one 😬

I live near the park and in 20+ years have only seen one live and 2 dead rattlesnakes on my property. Hiking up Ryan Mtn one time I saw 3 and it’s a short hike.

From my years living in the desert, my belief is there are more snakes when there is a good rainy season. And omg, so many squirrels now.

Trail running in Joshua Tree sounds like a foolish endevour