Some tactics for avoidance:
-reading certain scrolls can reveal nearby traps to you for a number of turns
-an early Logos ritual, Divine Objects, can also detect traps. The higher your Logos, the better it works
-a higher Outdoors skill can help you find traps in the wilderness. Its also useful for hunting plants and mushrooms
There is often more than one place available to explore, so sometimes just leaving a difficult map and returning when you are more powerful is the best approach.