This was a great hike if you want a tough but quick one. Going down from Maxwell tank was brutal with the prickly bushes. The manditory swim through the pools were freezing cold!By the time you would climb out of the water the lower half of your body is numb. I loved it. After the pools the hike for the rest of the way was beautiful. I don't know much about snakes but we saw a king snake or a coral snake. It was about 30 inches long! right in the trail. You have to cross the creek several times on the way through. Not just the few pools to swim. great day hike.