The name of this lovely spot on Rattlesnake Bar is actually Avery’s Pond, and I’ve shared some photos of it before (from a previous hike in 2016). But on a nice warm spring day, you’re bound to spot plenty of large turtles sunning themselves on logs here — that is, unless the turtles see you first!

These particular turtles are red-eared sliders; they often start out as pet store purchases. Because people have chosen to release them into the wild, they’ve become an invasive species, pushing out the native Western pond turtle.