Many hikers assume tick season ends with summer, but adult ticks stay active well into autumn, questing on vegetation whenever temperatures stay above freezing. Fall is prime hiking weather — cool air, empty trails, brilliant foliage — and it is also prime time to pick up a tick without realizing it. A few simple habits make autumn hikes much safer.

Clothing is your first line of defense. Wear long pants tucked into your socks or boots, long sleeves, and light-colored fabrics so crawling ticks are easy to spot. This looks unfashionable and works brilliantly. Treat your hiking clothes, socks, and shoes with permethrin before the season starts — it bonds to fabric through several washes and kills ticks on contact. Permethrin goes on clothing only, never on skin, and needs to dry completely before you wear the garments.

For exposed skin, use an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus, following the label directions. Picaridin is nearly as effective as DEET and feels less greasy, which makes it popular with hikers. Reapply according to the product's stated duration, especially on long days. Natural-only options exist, but they typically need reapplication every hour or two, so set expectations accordingly.

Your behavior on the trail matters as much as your gear. Walk in the center of the trail and avoid brushing against tall grass, leaf litter, and overhanging brush where ticks wait. Be careful where you sit — logs, stone walls, and leaf piles are classic tick habitats. If you stop for a snack, choose an open rock or cleared ground rather than a grassy bank. These small choices dramatically reduce how many ticks ever reach you.

The post-hike routine is where most protection actually happens. Within a couple of hours of getting home, shower and do a full-body tick check, paying attention to behind the ears, under the arms, around the waistband, behind the knees, and along the hairline. Toss hiking clothes in the dryer on high heat for ten minutes to kill any hitchhikers. Check your dog just as carefully, since pets bring ticks indoors.

If you find an attached tick, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling straight out without twisting. Clean the area and watch it for several weeks — a spreading rash, fever, or joint pain after a bite deserves a prompt call to your doctor. Autumn hiking rewards preparation, from tick habits to choosing the right sleeping bag rating for cold nights and keeping your sleep setup comfortable at camp. Cover the basics and the woods are all yours.