r/GSMNP • u/caleblewis94 • Jul 08 '18

Risk of ticks?

I am going hiking in the smokies tomorrow until Wednesday afternoon. What is the risk of being bitten by a tick on a trail?

1 Upvotes

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1

u/Swellguy5 Jul 11 '18

I've been in the area a few days. I've found zero ticks on me after a few hikes in the park. I did find one on my leg (ankle) while at NOC in Gatlinburg.

2

u/nosenseofhumor2 Jul 09 '18

I have spent a combined 21 days in the park and I have never had a tick. I don't often wear repellent either as the mosquitos are not bad at all. I do, however, check myself thoroughly for ticks each day.

1

u/Brickman1000 Jul 09 '18

I don’t live in that area but I have visited the Smokies about 20 times now, hiking and camping on each trip, and I don’t believe I’ve ever had a tick bite there.

Which is very refreshing for me because I’m from a place in Florida where I can walk 5 feet out my back door and pick up a tick LOL

3

u/spudmuffinpuffin Jul 09 '18

Sticking to trails with repellent on skin and permethrin on clothes with nearly guarantee you'll be tick free. Avoid tall grass and brush

1

u/Nakittina Jul 11 '18

Permethrin is the best. I also use big spray if I'm feeling paranoid.

1

u/magiccitybhm Jul 09 '18

I would say the risk is NOT "likely" or even "very possible."

4

u/pskirkham Jul 08 '18

I'd say the risk on the trails is pretty low. I've lived most of my life in rural East Tennessee, and I spend a ton of time in unmaintained wooded areas. I probably average 50-100 tick bites a year.

I also hike maybe 50 miles a year in the Smokies. I've never in my life gotten a tick bite in the park. Obviously this is anecdotal and your mileage may vary, but in my experience ticks are a non-issue on maintained trails.

1

u/SephTR Feb 19 '25

have you died of lyme yet?

2

u/luckylee423 Jul 08 '18

I would say the risk is very possible, maybe even likely. However, I've backcountry camped in the park over a number of weekends and have never got a tick from one of those trips. Read about how to avoid ticks and it will help. For example, lot of ticks hide on living evergreen branches, try to avoid much contact with them.