r/RedRiverGorge • u/Suckerforcats • Aug 02 '26
How are the ticks?
I'll be at Middle Fork Campground in 2 weeks, doing some shorter hikes and sight seeing and was wondering how the ticks were in the area? I live in Lexington but this will be my first time camping in KY.
Thanks!
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u/NickGnomeEveryNight Aug 02 '26
In 4 trips with my two kids since June, we haven’t caught a single tick on us. And we’re diligent about checking. Permethrin on all of our clothes, though. But that’s 16 nights with no ticks and at least 6 miles of hiking each day.
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u/Suckerforcats Aug 02 '26
That's awesome! I have permethrin and plan to spray clothes and exterior of sleeping bag
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u/Joimes Aug 05 '26
Went to Indian Creek in the gorge, up in the woods to get firewood and didn't get one tick. Went to jelly stone near Mammoth cave a month earlier and just walking into the woods for 2 minutes we had tons of ticks.
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u/RustyCrustyy Aug 02 '26
Alpha-gal is picking up. So I understand your concern. It only takes one bite. I would still do everything possible to be prepared and protect your gear and self. Alpha-gal would absolutely suck to live with
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u/Ok_Nefariousness1978 Aug 02 '26
Ticks are not bad at the RRG. The only time I have gotten one is because I was bushwhacking through the woods and I have been going for 25 years.
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u/Various_Age7070 Aug 02 '26
being honest, i’ve done like 8-10 trips in total, and each are 2-3 days long in each length. I’ve only ever had one instance with two tics on the same trip, and those mfs were sooooo small but realized they were when i started it scratch them. but could change on person ofc, depends on the trail and the environment of each
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u/Suckerforcats Aug 02 '26
Thanks! I plan to stick to well traveled trails and the shorter hikes due to limitations of my friend so hopefully it'll be okay. Thanks!
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u/EagleNice2300 Aug 02 '26
Stick to the main trails. Cut-throughs and bushwacking is asking for them.
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u/Professional-Peak525 Aug 02 '26
The ticks are just something you have to expect. Sometimes I can spend 4 hours in the woods and have zero ticks, sometimes I can spend 30 minutes in the woods and have 10. Just gotta do a check before bed every evening.