CLINTON TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) – A popular Hunterdon County recreation area has been ranked fourth on a list of U.S. state parks with significant tick-borne illness concerns.
WorldAtlas ranked Round Valley Reservoir No. 4 on its list of “The State Parks With The Most Tick-Borne Illness,” citing New Jersey’s prevalence of Lyme disease and the wooded environment surrounding the reservoir.
According to WorldAtlas, the list ranks parks based on the severity of tick-borne disease problems in their surrounding regions, along with documented tick activity, published research or firsthand accounts of infection.
WorldAtlas noted that Round Valley’s wooded trails take hikers, anglers and backcountry campers through areas of leaf litter and brush that provide favorable habitat for ticks.
The publication also highlighted the experience of Mike Gallagher, a musician who worked for decades in New Jersey state parks and experienced multiple tick bites during his career. According to WorldAtlas, Gallagher was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2025 and experienced serious neurological complications, including hearing and short-term memory problems and loss of use of his arms and shoulders.
WorldAtlas said the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest have some of the nation’s highest burdens of tick-borne disease.
Despite the ranking, the publication stressed that the parks on its list are not necessarily places people should avoid. Instead, visitors should take precautions before heading onto trails or into wooded areas.
Recommended precautions include using an EPA-registered insect repellent containing 20% to 30% DEET, wearing long sleeves and pants, remaining on cleared trails and avoiding tall grass and dense brush.
Visitors should also check themselves thoroughly for ticks during and after outdoor activities, shower within two hours of returning indoors and place worn clothing in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes, according to WorldAtlas.
People who develop a rash, fever or other symptoms in the days or weeks following a possible tick exposure should contact a medical professional.
