Utah is home to 31 native snake species, including seven venomous ones, thriving across its diverse environments from deserts to high elevations. The state’s abundance of prey like small mammals and birds supports these snakes, making several state parks notable hotspots for snake sightings. Key parks include Dead Horse Point, Antelope Island, Goblin Valley, Kodachrome Basin, Snow Canyon, Gunlock, and Sand Hollow, each hosting a variety of species such as the harmless Great Basin gopher snake, venomous midget faded rattlesnake, Great Basin rattlesnake, and non-venomous but impressive California kingsnake.

Visitors to these parks may encounter snakes in varied habitats—from rocky cliffs and desert dunes to reservoirs where some snakes even swim. While some species like the midget faded rattlesnake carry potent venom, others like the California kingsnake play a unique ecological role by preying on other snakes. Utah’s state parks offer opportunities to observe these secretive reptiles in their natural settings, underscoring the importance of respecting their space to minimize harmful encounters.