It’s July 10 and the water keeps rising at Folsom Lake. This late season water rise is covering trails that were high and dry just three weeks ago. Even though some paths are a little water logged, there are several miles of trails around Folsom Lake to explore.

Most of the trails at Folsom are multi-use meaning you will meet hikers, runners, mountain bikes and horses. While there are a few steep slopes, most of the trails are easily walked and wide enough to accommodate 2-way traffic. The trails are considered beginner to intermediate for mountain bikes. I still occasionally walk my bike up a few of the steeper slopes. But it is fun going down.

Perhaps the biggest hazard you will face on the trails are either the calling card of our equestrian friends (horse poop) or mountain bikers trying to achieve warp speed coming down the hills.

The weather is warm and the water is high. This combination has pushed a variety of snakes closer to the multi-use trails around Folsom Lake. In the last week of either riding my mountain bike or hiking on the trails, I have seen one King, one Gopher and two Rattle snakes slithering across the trails. With exception of the rattle snakes, the other trail dwellers were stretched out on the trail perhaps playing dead until I passed.

These cold blooded reptiles enjoying our summer weather want nothing to do with us. They quickly get back into the weeds and brush as an exit strategy. My biggest fear is running over them on my bike as they play dead. Consquently, I have to get off my bike, as with the one in the photo, and shoo them off the trail. Only one of the Rattle snakes shook his rattles at me, more of a goodbye, as he went over a log while I was trying to take his picture.

Stay on the trails.