[inglor_cz]

Ticks don't fly and they generally dislike sunlit or dry places. They will mostly lurk in darker, wetter places, up to 3 feet from the ground. So a shady tree patch with overgrown grass at the edge of a swamp or creek is much more likely to be thoroughly infested than other places.

Use a repelent, wear some light-colored clothes to spot a crawling tick easily, tuck the (long!) trousers into your hiking shoes and you should be OK.

[jmnicolas]

> Use a repelent

AFAIK permethrin is the only available repellent for ticks but please be aware that it provokes blindness in cats.

[lwn]

'Deet' is also available as repellent against ticks, although less effective. Permethrin is (also) extremely toxic to fish and aquatic life.