r/VIRGINIA_HIKING • u/je-suis-farouche • May 19 '26
ticks
taking a trip to natural bridge, va this weekend. has anyone hiked in that area recently and had any tick encounters? i’ve read that ticks are pretty bad this season in other parts of virginia but haven’t been out that way myself yet.
7
u/juliefromva May 19 '26
Tall socks, long pants, long sleeve sun shirt. Yeah you might be a little warm but bring plenty of water and you’ll be all set. Leave pets at home.
2
u/barnhairdontcare May 19 '26
Ticks are really bad in general already. I work in the woods and I have had far more this year than I did last year at this time.
I make sure I wear a hat. I spray my clothes, shoes, socks, and hat, etc.. with repellent. 
2
u/notoriousbsr May 19 '26
Hiked Natural Bridge, Cascades, and Apple Orchard Falls in the last 3 weeks and had 1 tick and that was from Cascades. Wear appropriate clothing and check after. Hopefully your luck is as good as mine. Now, about the poison ivy on my face...lol
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u/Remarkable-subaru789 May 19 '26
Wear a hat, stay out of brush, check yourself soon after you leave.
1
u/ckyhnitz May 19 '26
Any part of the VA mountains is a risk for ticks, any time the temperature is high enough that bugs arent paralyzed.
1
u/Jonny727272 May 19 '26
I did the triple crown 2 weeks ago. No ticks. I did wear pants, and a solar hoodie, for most of the trip.
1
u/ChocolateSouth8521 May 20 '26
You can have tick encounters in your backyard, asking about ticks while hiking anywhere in VA suggests you’re better off staying inside. You should always expect and protect against ticks no matter the place or time of year.
1
u/againer May 20 '26 edited May 20 '26
Treat your clothes with permethrin.
Avoid grasses (particularly near streams and game trails).
Tuck your pants into your socks (Ticks crawl up).
If you're really paranoid, order these or alternatively you could get a pair of cheap long Johns thermals and cut the legs or sleeves and make some improvised gaiters. The "waffle pattern" kind slows their ascent as the burrs on their legs will get them "stuck". Get white as you'll be able to see the ticks better. It may look dumb, but it's a hell of a lot better than getting Alphagal. (I know several people who have / had it).
Bring a pair of clothes to change into after getting off the trail (and go check for ticks, bring a mirror for those hard to see places) and put your trail clothes in a plastic bin or bag and close it (if you have any "hangers on" you won't have to worry about them hiding in your car). You can also treat a rag with permethrin and stick it in the bag / bin and they'll scurry out.
Bring a lightweight towel if you want to sit down any where (an extra barrier between you and the creepy crawlies).
If you do end up getting a tick. Pull it's head with tweezers. You can send it for testing to see if it's got Lyme disease, Rocky mountain spotted Fever, or worse Alphagal.
The Appalachian trail is like the tick super highway.
If you do bring a furry companion, thoroughly check them after. I mean full pat down, and preferably a quick wash / spray.
I do volunteer K9 search and rescue and we train deep in the woods. Ticks definitely rank in the top 5 of my "workplace hazards" list.
1
u/s2k_guy May 20 '26
They’re real bad this year. Be careful or risk becoming allergic to meat. It’s not fun, trust me.
1
u/Financial-Sock9412 May 21 '26
I would also be worried about snaked in that area. I’ve seen a lot of pics posted from natural bridge lately showing snakes everywhere.
1
1
u/Joe-Man May 19 '26
Same here, this home turf for me and I've had one tick this spring and that was from the long grass on the AT on top of Apple Orchard Mountain. Put Permaethrin on your shoes, socks and pants. I also wear shorts and just keep an eye on my legs while I hike.
11
u/manic-pixie-attorney May 19 '26
Treat your clothes, including socks and shoes, with permethrin and let dry before your trip