Chelan Rattlesnakes

[deadyote]

So I have never seen a rattlesnake while in the woods.  I really want to!!!  I've seen bull snakes, but can't find a rattlesnake.  Were headed over to chelan for a week in the middle of July.  Anyone have a suggestion as to how and where to look for them?  Not going to kill them, just want to see one. 

[Igor]

Head up Icicle Creek out of Leavenworth.  We have seen them around Eight Mile Campground, eight miles from Leavenworth.   

[MR5x5]

Easy.  Grassy, sunny, hillside. Get into a hillside full of them and you might decide you've seen enough.  I would not bring kids or dogs...

[Sandberm]

No where near Chelan but...took the dog for a mid afternoon walk in the Wallula gap at the new trailhead they set up a few years ago just past where guys used to steelhead fish along the Columbia. A couple hundred yards up the canyon, walking through some boulders and brush I heard a rattle just off trail to my right...ten yards further I heard a rattle off to my left. That was enough for me and the dog.

[Katmai Guy]

Alta lake

[bear]

Alta lake.  Chelan Butte

[Pegasus]

I have seen several in the road while driving the hills above Lake Chelan on the east side of the lake. Also a good area to spot bears.

[buckcanyonlodge]

Gifford Shake-Tail..Neighbor used to feed this guy mice he would catch in a mouse trap in the house...Lived under his porch.

This time of year look for the snakes around any ground squirrel colony's...Find ground squirrels there are snakes around. Later in the summer look along streams that run through rocky areas .

[Katmai Guy]

Dang, thats a healthy one!

[Romulus1297]

Drive up Antoine Creek after dark turn around when the pavement ends you should find a couple.

[GWP]

BIL spent $7K plus on his prize hunting dog after it got bit to keep it alive... See them in Ellensburg in the hills often.

[mburrows]

Chelan butte, seems like late spring through summer I see them just about every time we go around there especially in the rocky terrain

[Alex4200]

They are everywhere around Chelan and Douglas counties. If you are going to be here in July, just remember the hotter it gets the more nocturnal they will be. Look for areas they can ambush food sources such as mice and squirrels and still have shade from the sun like in grasses or under rocky overhangs.

[Buckjunkie]

More dense on South facing slopes above water. I was told that CWU used to do a study of Rattle Snakes on the North Shore (South facing above water) of Lake Chelan because of the density of snakes. Don’t know if it’s true. Ive only seen a few rattle snakes in my travels in random places. Couple in the Manashtash, 1 on West Bar and the rest in the potholes while fishing.

[Trapper John]

I've seen them in Cle Elum in the woods and on dirt roads

[NOCK NOCK]

Drive up Antoine Creek after dark turn around when the pavement ends you should find a couple.

This. they like to hit the gravel/pavement roads at night to soak up the heat from the roads

[jrebel]

Year to year is different for me, but there are snakes all over Chelan County.  Couple years ago we saw them literally on every hike.  Last year I can't say that I saw one. 

Gifford Shake-Tail..Neighbor used to feed this guy mice he would catch in a mouse trap in the house...Lived under his porch.

This time of year look for the snakes around any ground squirrel colony's...Find ground squirrels there are snakes around. Later in the summer look along streams that run through rocky areas .

I have seen three on the property in three years and they always make me cringe.  That brushy country....you don't know they are there until they make noise in most cases.       Pretty sure one made me soil myself last year...

[nwwanderer]

Always an exhilarating experience, be careful what you wish for

[h2ofowlr]

So I have never seen a rattlesnake while in the woods.  I really want to!!!  I've seen bull snakes, but can't find a rattlesnake.  Were headed over to chelan for a week in the middle of July.  Anyone have a suggestion as to how and where to look for them?  Not going to kill them, just want to see one.

Look for some rocky areas.  You can usually find them or a den of them.  Seen quite a few out this year already when we were out turkey hunting.

[Jonathan_S]

Eff snakes.

[cougforester]

Just go below Grade Creek Road from now until September in the rocky, bluffy areas and you will find snakes. Lots of snakes. Way too many snakes. 

[MonstroMuley]

Drive up Antoine Creek after dark turn around when the pavement ends you should find a couple.

   Apple Acres Rd to Antoine ... Winthrop - Pipestone Canyon

[deadyote]

Thanks for the pointers fellas.  Found 4 snakes one night and one was about 3 feet long.  Found a dead one that had already been run over and took the rattle.  Tons of fun.