A good amount of these snakes take on a washed out look. Some though can have a brilliant orange.
Black crossovers can be high.
Triads do seem to go around the body completely with some extra black and white spots mixed in the orange base color. This is the least known of all zonata to the herpetological community. In extreme Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, this snake intergrades with the Sierra Mountain Kingsnake. Studies are now underway and new sub-species may soon to be described in these areas. On and near Mount Saint Helena this snake is associated with volcanic rock and closed-cone pine forest.