Snake Road in Shawnee National Forest in Early October

[Atravelynn]

Cotton Mouth along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.”  The snake was in this position when we found it and remained in that position when we left.  We did not provoke it.

 

Located in Southern Illinois in the Shawnee National Forest, Snake Road aka LaRue Pine Hills Snake Road aka Forest Service Road 345 is a 2.5 mile stretch of gravel that is closed to cars in Spring and Fall to allow the resident reptiles and amphibians a path to migrate between their summer home in the prairies and swamps and their winter home in the sandstone cliffs.

Cotton Mouth seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.”

 

 

Ribbon Snake near swampy area of Snake Road

 

 

Copperhead along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

This spring the road closes early due to warmer temps—March 15-May 15, 2024. Last fall it was closed Sept 1-Oct 30, 2023.

 

Rough Green Snake

 

 

Here is a Jan 9, 2024 comprehensive article on Snake Road with photos from National Geographic.

https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/snake-migration/

 

 

I first learned of this fascinating place here on Safaritalk through a trip report I can no longer locate. Darn, I’ve tried to find it again but cannot.

 

Cotton Mouth

 

A helpful book on Snake Road, published in 2021 is

Snake Road: A Field Guide to the Snakes of LaRue-Pine Hills (Shawnee Books)

 

https://www.amazon.com/Snake-Road-Snakes-LaRue-Pine-Shawnee/dp/080933805X/

 

 

Cotton Mouth

 

 

Armadillo

 

 

I went Oct 4, 5, 6 in 2023.  My husband and I arrived the afternoon of Oct 4 in time to do some snake viewing. I spent most of the 5^th and 6^th on Snake Road. We left for home on the morning of Oct 7, straight from the hotel without returning to Snake Road.

 

 

Cotton Mouth, along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.”

 

 

The first week of October is an ideal time to see the snakes, frogs, toads, and salamanders on and around Snake Road. The nights are starting to turn cold, which is the signal to head to the cliffs to hole up for the winter, but there is still enough warm sun during the day for 70-ish F temps to lure the cold-blooded creatures out of their cozy hiding places.

Tree Frog

 

 

Northern Slimy Salamander

 

 

American Toad

 

 

I chose weekdays (Wed, Thurs, Fri) because there are fewer people than on weekends.  Too many people can scare the snakes simply by the vibrations of their feet on the road.

 

Ribbon Snake near swampy area of Snake Road

 

 

Cotton Mouth, along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.”

 

 

A surprise cool front and some rain showers reduced the snake viewing from what can be 40 snakes a day to what I saw, which was about 25 snakes total—5 species--in 3 days.  Plus frogs, toads, salamanders, a spider, eagles, and an armadillo.

 

Bald Eagle seen on Muddy Water Levee Road, the gravel road off of Hwy 3 on the way to Snake Road

 

 

Armadillo

 

 

Armadillo

 

 

Long-tailed Salamander, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

Tree frog

 

 

American Toad

 

 

Spider

 

My husband and I stayed at Holiday Inn Express-Murphysboro-Carbondale, about 35 minutes away on good, well-marked roads, from Snake Road, booked a couple months in advance.

Juvenile Cotton Mouth, the first snake I spotted, about 15 minutes after my husband and I arrived at Snake Road.  It was on the gravel road.

 

 

Holiday Inn Express-Murphysboro-Carbondale was the closest accommodation we could find that had not closed down and that did not require renting a huge cabin (for just two.)  This Holiday Inn Express was new and it was really, really nice.  Which was good because my husband spent most of his time at the hotel, not on Snake Road.  He did get to see an adult and a baby Cotton Mouth, plus a Rough Green Snake and an eagle, so he was satisfied.

 

 

Rough Green Snake--a very long one--seen on first afternoon, near the start of Snake Road, where Muddy Water Levee leads to a small parking lot

 

 

Curled up adult Cotton Mouth seen on first afternoon near swampy area

 

 

Bald Eagle seen on Muddy River Levee Road

 

 

I asked the hotel desk clerk if they were experiencing an influx of visitors at this time of year due to the snake migration in the Shawnee Forest.  The poor clerk had no idea what I was talking about and looked at me like I was not quite right.

Cotton Mouth, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

Tree frog

To be continued

Edited April 19 by Atravelynn

[Tom Kellie]

~ @Atravelynn:

 

Terrific images of a wealth of seldom observed species.

 

And Dolmedes triton on a leaf, no less!

 

This trip report educates while beguiling with excellent images.

 

Thank you!

 

      Tom K.

[Whyone?]

Tremendous stuff @Atravelynn- frogs, snakes and spiders - what is not to like!!! 

 

Thank you for sharing!

[Zim Girl]

3 hours ago, Whyone? said:

Tremendous stuff @Atravelynn- frogs, snakes and spiders - what is not to like!!! 

 

Thank you for sharing!

 

And an Armadillo - what a great place!

[TonyQ]

An amazing place, wonderful photos of fascinating creatures.

 

[kilopascal]

Once again I learn of a new destination from @AtravelynnThank you

[janzin]

I vaguely remember that trip report also, I know I've seen this before...but I can't find it either! I actually thought it was YOUR report from years ago, but I guess not.

 

Anyway looks like a fascinating place!

 

UPDATE: While searching for that, I found your other trip report on a snake spot...Snake's Den in Manitoba. So maybe that was the one I was remembering.

Edited April 10 by janzin

[Atravelynn]

When using Google Maps, choose one of these to locate Snake Road.

 

 

LaRue Road Parking Area, Larue Rd, Wolf Lake, IL 62998

LaRue-Pine Hills, 475E, Wolf Lake, IL 62998

 

 

From Highway 3 there are two roads leading to parking areas on opposite ends of Snake Road.  One way in is Muddy Water Levee. Turn east from Hwy 3.  This is a gravel road that ends in a parking lot which can accommodate about 20 cars.  There is even a picnic table or two. 

Looking back at the parking lot through trees from Snake Road, which starts at the red and white barrier.  Parking Lot at end of Muddy Water Levee Rd.

 

 

Parking Lot for Snake Road at the end of Muddy Water Levee Rd

 

 

The other way to reach Snake Road is also from Highway 3, about 1.1 to 1.2 miles south of Muddy Water Levee Road.  A landmark is a yellow house indicating you turn east on Gailee Rd or LaRue Road which is smoother than Muddy Water Levee.  This road ends at Snake Road in an area where about 10 cars can pull off to the side of the road.  Not really any parking lot.

 

Cars need to line up on along the sides of the road, allowing a passage lane in the middle.  Parking area for Snake Road at end of Gailee or LaRue Rd.

 

 

To save wear and tear on our Ford Fusion and tires my husband requested that I use Gailee Road rather than the Muddy Water Levee gravel road.  Only our first trip in and out was on the gravel Muddy Water Levee Rd.

 

Swampy area next to Snake Road

 

There is a big swampy area with rocky cliffs in the background that Snake Road traverses, which may require waterproof footwear, and that tends to be one of the best places to see snakes, frogs, etc.  This area is closer to the parking lot at the end of the gravel Muddy Water Levee—about a 10 to 15-minute walk.

 

 

 

Tree Frog near swampy area on Snake Road

 

 

Given that Snake Road is 2.5 miles in length, this prime swampy region is about a 45- minute walk from the parking area where Gailee Rd/LaRue Rd dead ends into Snake Road.

 

Ribbon Snake next to the swampy area on Snake Road

 

 

Some people bring a collapsible photographer chairs to sit on the gravel Snake Road near this swampy part.

Cotton Mouth near swampy area of Snake Road

 

 

Snake Road is made of packed gravel and has a few gently sloping inclines.  It is wide enough for at least one big car but no cars were allowed when I was there.  Not challenging terrain for walking, though watch for ruts. The leaf litter on the road can mean snakes are obscured, so paying attention to your feet when walking is a good idea.

 

Section of the 2.5 mile Snake Road

 

 

In addition to Snake Road, there are some trails leading up along the cliffs that are very steep and difficult to climb, especially in wet conditions. I took this route only when accompanied by two Shawnee Forest Snake Road "Sentinels,” volunteers who very kindly invited me along with them on their snake monitoring patrol one rainy morning when no one was around.

 

The inclement weather kept other herpers (short for herpetologists) home because they know snakes are less active in rain.  As a result, we found quite a few snakes along the secluded trails up high in the rocks since there had been no foot traffic preceding us to scatter the snakes.  We tried to leave the snakes undisturbed.

 

 

Cotton Mouth along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

The following 5 photos are of a Cotton Mouth that was in this position when we found it and remained in that position when we left.  We did not provoke it.  It is obvious  how the Cotton Mouth got its name.

 

 

 

 

 

Cotton Mouth along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

Copperhead along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

Copperhead along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

Copperhead along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

The herpers are a friendly bunch of people who appreciate snakes. Herpers spanned all ages and genders, including parents with babies in carriers.  They were all very interested in showing others what they had found and talking about snake viewing past and present on Snake Road and elsewhere. 

 

 

The front and back of a t-shirt worn by one of the friendly herpers

 

The herpers with the best spotting skills were known as Snake Eyes.  Those two words are the Quote of the Trip.  I benefited many times from various Snake Eyes. 

 

Rough Green Snake, pointed out to me by one of the many Snake Eyes near swampy area of Snake Road

 

 

Ribbon Snake, pointed out to me by one of the many Snake Eyes near swampy area of Snake Road

 

 

I found these two Cotton Mouths myself

 

 

Everyone I saw behaved appropriately with the snakes, keeping a safe distance and not provoking them. The snakes were not aggressive and minded their own business by usually just sitting still or slowly slithering away. Nothing about a visit to Snake Road is frightening or threatening. 

 

Tree Frog

 

 

Jewel Weed

 

 

 

 

 

Armadillo

 

 

Most snake sightings in and around Snake Road are Cotton Mouths / Water Moccasins (different names for the same snake) but up to 24 snake species, I believe, can be seen, plus the other creatures who live there.  I saw 5 species of snake:  Cotton Mouth, Rough Green Snake, Copperhead, Ribbon Snake, and Mississippi Green Water Snake.

 

 

Copperhead along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

Mississippi Green Water Snake, not the best shot of this shy snake

 

 

Rough Green Snake

 

 

 Ribbon Snake near swampy area of Snake Road

 

Although a couple of picnic tables could be found in the parking lot at the end of Muddy River Levee, there are no bathrooms, toilets or port-a-potties along Snake Road.

 

 

Cotton Mouth along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

 

Cotton Mouth along sandstone cliffs, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

The two “Sentinels” who allowed me to follow along with them told me about a friend of theirs coming to Snake Road the next day for his birthday.  They described him as a guy age 60-ish with gray hair and a beard who always wore a hat and camouflage pants, carried a camera with a big lens, and traveled with his wife.  They said I should go up to him and wish him Happy Birthday and he’d be really surprised at this greeting coming from a stranger.  I agreed to the prank.

 

Young Cotton Mouth on Snake Road

 

 

So, the next day under partly sunny skies I kept my eyes open not only for snakes but for this 60-ish gray haired bearded guy in a hat, wearing camouflage pants with a camera and a wife.  I soon realized that description applied to 1 in every 8 males I encountered, and as for confirming the presence of a wife, I couldn’t always tell who paired up with whom when there was a group of people ogling a snake.

Cotton Mouth, seen while accompanying the volunteer “Sentinels.” 

 

 

I ended up wishing happy birthday to the wrong guy twice.  One was bewildered but friendly and we had a laugh, the wife included, meaning at least I had matched the two of them up correctly.  The other guy thought I was trying out my psychic skills but just needed more practice.

Cotton Mouth

 

 

I finally got the right guy who was dumbfounded for a moment, then thought it was hilarious.  We asked a passing herper to take a group photo of the guy, his wife, and me and emailed it to the two women I had met on their Sentinel duty who had put me up to this.

 

Rough Green Snake

 

 

I’d like to return someday, perhaps during Spring, to experience a different season, although from what I learned Fall usually has more snake sightings.  If I do return, I’m supposed to let the Sentinels know and maybe we can have a reunion on Snake Road.

Cotton Mouth

 

 

The End

 

Edited April 11 by Atravelynn

[TonyQ]

Fascinating and great pictures.

Good to see you showing off your psychic skills

[Atravelynn]

19 hours ago, janzin said:

I vaguely remember that trip report also, I know I've seen this before...but I can't find it either! I actually thought it was YOUR report from years ago, but I guess not.  Not mine and I don't remember whose it was.  I wonder if some content has dropped or removed from ST  or maybe the writer of the report somehow got rid of it.  I was able to find that report as recently as about 2 years ago.  Just googling or searching Youtube, there is tons of info out there on Snake Road and the Snake Road facebook page is helpful too for current conditions.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Fascinating and great pictures.

Good to see you showing off your psychic skills

Thanks, I knew you were going to write that.

 

[Towlersonsafari]

what a wonderful place and report @Atravelynni wonder why its called snake road?

[Atravelynn]

6 hours ago, Towlersonsafari said:

what a wonderful place and report @Atravelynni wonder why its called snake road?

Thanks! I wish there were a laughing face instead of a heart for your comment. 

[Caracal]

I was hooked on this engrossing report @Atravelynn

Fascinated by all the photos including that Copperhead's red tongue.

Didn't realise you'd have armadillos there -for some reason I was thinking they were central and southern America.

As a potential meal I thought the green tree frog had a very cool and calm persona!

 

[Atravelynn]

On 4/12/2024 at 10:50 PM, Caracal said:

I was hooked on this engrossing report @Atravelynn  Thanks!

Fascinated by all the photos including that Copperhead's red tongue.

Didn't realise you'd have armadillos there -for some reason I was thinking they were central and southern America.  I was surprised they were this far north.  Common in Texas or Florida.  But Southern Illinois?  A nice treat!

As a potential meal I thought the green tree frog had a very cool and calm persona!  I think it relied on the camouflage.

 

 

[Atdahl]

I agree, it was a great report @Atravelynn.  I have long had snake road on my list so having your trip details is really helpful.  You were kind of at the mercy of the weather a bit but you still had some really good herp sightings.  Other than the mass garter snake area in Canada I can't think of a place with a greater mass of snakes.  It truly is a herper paradise especially with all the amphibians as well.

 

As a side note, I have that snake T-shirt.  We got it at the Chiricahua Desert Museum in Portal Az (Near Cave Creek Canyon).  It's one of my favs 

 

Alan

[Atravelynn]

You have the same shirt!!!??? Wow, @Atdahl.   I love little coincidences like that.  Thanks for letting me know.  How fun.

 

I do think Narcisse, Manitoba around Mother's Day and Snake Road in the Shawnee Forest in early Oct are the best places in the world to see snakes.   I've had other, perhaps more spectacular, snake sightings that have occurred unexpectedly and randomly in other parts of the world, but the volume and reliability cannot compare to Narcisse (especially) and Snake Road. I am so lucky to have visited both.  And I'm not even enamored with snakes in particular and I never touch or hold them.  They are just another cool (ha ha, cold-blooded) species on the planet.

[Atravelynn]

11 minutes ago, Atravelynn said:

You have the same shirt!!!??? Wow, @Atdahl.   I love little coincidences like that.  Thanks for letting me know.  How fun.

 

I do think Narcisse, Manitoba around Mother's Day and Snake Road in the Shawnee Forest in early Oct are the best places in the world to see snakes.   I've had other, perhaps more spectacular, snake sightings that have occurred unexpectedly and randomly in other parts of the world, but the volume and reliability cannot compare to Narcisse (especially) and Snake Road. I am so lucky to have visited both.  And I'm not even enamored with snakes in particular and I never pick them up or touch them.  They are just another cool (ha ha, cold-blooded) species on the planet.

 

[Pangolin]

Awesome looking place and great photos.

[Atdahl]

Snakes fascinate me as well.  It's one of the reasons we moved to Arizona (that and all the other herps here) and bought that T-shirt.  LOL

 

Alan

[michael-ibk]

On 4/10/2024 at 4:21 AM, Atravelynn said:

I asked the hotel desk clerk if they were experiencing an influx of visitors at this time of year due to the snake migration in the Shawnee Forest.  The poor clerk had no idea what I was talking about and looked at me like I was not quite right.

 

Sometimes it's easy to forget most people do certainly not belong to our "safaritalk world".

 

Great report Lynn, and certainly a place I would visit. Very cool snakes, but as a mammal guy I have to confess I particularly like the Armadillo. And as a something else even more extreme guy I have to ask: Have the snakes eaten all the birds?

[Atravelynn]

4 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

 

Sometimes it's easy to forget most people do certainly not belong to our "safaritalk world".   So sad for them.

 

Great report Lynn, and certainly a place I would visit. Very cool snakes, but as a mammal guy I have to confess I particularly like the Armadillo. Thanks!  The Armadillo  was a highlight for me too. And as a something else even more extreme guy I have to ask: Have the snakes eaten all the birds?  The area is supposed to be good for birding too.  I must admit my focus was on the snakes and not the birds, but we did see a Bald Eagle.