Located In: Auburn.

Distance: 8.5 miles out and back.

Difficulty Level: Moderate.

Know Before You Go: Reservations are required on weekends; parking reservations are required seven days a week. Prepare for full sun and bring sunscreen, watch for rattlesnakes and poison oak, and come with plenty of water. The trail should take about four hours, so wear layers.

Why We Love It: Tucked within the Hidden Falls Regional Park, there are many options to shorten or extend the hike with views that range from waterfalls to wildflowers. Being able to take a quick dip on warm days only adds to its appeal.

When are they active?
Rattlesnakes can appear any time of day but are most active in the morning and at dusk, as they hunt mostly nocturnal rodents.

Where can you find them?
You will usually spot rattlesnakes in crevices between rocks and shady areas during the day (they want to protect themselves from the sun), but can occasionally see them sprawled across trails basking.

What should you do if you see one?
Rattlesnakes want nothing to do with you, so if you encounter one, quietly and calmly move past it with a good distance. A general rule of thumb is that a rattlesnake can only strike about one-third of its body length.

What should you do if you’re bitten?
Keep your heart rate as low as possible, calmly hike out with minimal exertion, and get yourself to a medical facility. Many bites are “dry” bites, and you may not have been envenomated. Stay calm.

For more information, visit
alltrails.com/trail/us/california/creek-side-trail-to-great-egret-trail-loop.