Facilities and Activities:
| General | Land, acres | 9000 | | | Water, acres | 1200 | | | Nearby Wildlife Area, acres | yes | | Day-Use | Fishing | yes | | | Hunting | yes | | | Hiking Trail, miles | 8 | | | Picnicking | yes | | | Swimming Beach, feet | 1000 | | | Mountain Bike Trails, miles | 14 | | | Bridle Trails, miles | 25 | | | Beach Concession | yes | | | Nature Programs | yes | | Boating | Boat Rental | yes | | | Boating Limits | -2 | | | Seasonal Dock Rental | 100 | | | Launch Ramps, # | 3 | | | Fuel For Sale | yes | | Camping | Electric Sites, # | 199 | | | Pets Permitted | yes | | | Flush Toilets | yes | | | Dumpstation | yes | | | Showers | yes | | | Rent-A-Camp Sites, # | 3 | | | Camper Cabins, # | 2 | | | Horsemen Campsites, # | 10 | | Winter | Sledding | yes | | | Cross-Country Skiing | yes |
State Park Location Maps:
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State Park Photo Gallery:
volunteer positions open
State Park Event Calendar:
volunteer positions open
Nearby Parks:
Rocky Fork State Park
Fort Hill State Memorial
Seip Mound State Memorial
Kincaid Springs State Fish Hatchery
Serpent Mound State Memorial
Fallsville State Wildlife Area
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Located amid the breathtaking scenery of the Paint Creek Valley, Paint Creek State Park features a large lake with fine fishing, boating and swimming opportunities. A modern campground and meandering trails invite outdoor enthusiasts to explore and enjoy the rolling hills and streams of this scenic area. |
| Nature of the Area: |
| The Paint Creek region lies at the very edge of the Appalachian Plateau. This escarpment marks the boundary between the hilly eastern section of the state and the flatter western portions. Most of the plateau in southeastern Ohio was never reached by glaciers, although the Paint Creek area bears evidence of glacial activity. One stream near the park, Rocky Fork Creek, was blocked by glacial ice and reversed direction, rapidly cutting the 75-foot gorge seen today. Sullivantia, an extremely rare wildflower in Ohio, blooms in the gorge in mid-summer.
Equally impressive here are the Seven Caves, all located about 50 feet above Rocky Fork Creek. A short trip to the caves from the park is well worth the time.
Before Paint Creek was impounded to form a reservoir, the creek valley was unrivaled in the state for scenic beauty and its display of wildflowers. Some of this unspoiled land yet remains above the still waters of the lake. Wild geranium, jewelweed, yarrow and Queen Anne's lace can be found blooming in the woodlands and meadows of the park.
The reservoir provides habitat for numerous waterfowl and shorebirds as well as the great blue heron. Osprey and bald eagles have been sighted over the lake. The limestone outcroppings on the lake's edge provide nesting habitat for the cliff swallow. Other songbirds, raccoons, white-tailed deer and the elusive wild turkey inhabit the park. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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great park, some of the best fishing
we love the paint creek area
Written by j.reed
17-Apr-2008
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We Love to camp at Paint Creek
Our family loves to camp at Paint Creek, we just wish thier were more pet sites, but still love it there.
Written by a.little
13-May-2008
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Afavorite Camping and fishing park
We have been avid visitors to you park. It is clean and well kept. My boyfriend and I visit several times during the summer. We recently visited on July 12th and enjoyed our stay. thank you. Teresa Teets and Mike Shaw.
Written by Teresa Teets
15-Jul-2008
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| Camping: |
| The scenic hilltop campground at Paint Creek has 199 sites equipped with electricity. The campground features hot showers, flush toilets, laundry facilities and a dump station. Three Rent-A-Camp units, consisting of a tent, dining fly, cooler, cook stove and other equipment can be rented during the summer months by reservation. Pet camping is permitted on designated sites. A primitive horseman's camp is available for riders who bring their own mounts.
A primitive horseman's camp is available for riders who bring their own mounts. Self-contained units are permitted. |
| Trails: |
| Hikers can explore four trails from .75 miles to 2.5 miles long. The trails, lined with delicate wildflowers, pass through open meadows and mature woodlands. Trail riders will enjoy the 25 miles of bridle trails through scenic park lands. There are 14 miles of mountain bike trails. |
| Picnicking: |
| Picnic areas with tables and grills are provided near the marina and the beach. |
| Boating: |
| Unlimited horsepower boating is permitted on Paint Creek. Three launch ramps provide access to the lake. Boat rentals, fuel and seasonal dock rentals are offered. |
| Swimming: |
| A large 1,000-foot sand beach provides enjoyment for swimmers and sunbathers. A bathhouse with restrooms and changing booths is provided. |
| Fishing and Hunting: |
| Anglers will enjoy good catches of saugeye, bluegill, bass, catfish and crappie at Paint Creek. Hunting is permissible on the lake for waterfowl and on the adjacent wildlife area. Pheasant, rabbit and white-tailed deer provide hunting excitement. A valid Ohio hunting and/or fishing license is required. |
| History of the Area: |
| We are not the first to recognize the richness and beauty of this land. Prehistoric Indian cultures built a variety of earthworks throughout the region, while the Shawnee Indians considered the Paint Valley home.
Conflicts often arose between the original holders of the Ohio country and the white settlers invading from the east. A Shawnee named Waw-will-a-way became a victim of this strife when he was unjustly accused of scalping a white man. This Indian encountered three white men in the Paint Valley bent on revenge for the scalping. They shot him in the chest, yet he killed one and severely wounded the other two before he succumbed. His funeral pyre laid at the peaceful confluence of the Paint and Rattlesnake creeks.
The waters of the creeks provided a source of power for early mills. Grinding grain, processing wool and sawing wood were all facilitated by the waters flowing over dams constructed in the creeks. Many of the original dams were made of only earth and wood and were washed out by annual floods. One such mill, Crawford's Mill, was built at a place later called Hewitt's Crossing on Paint Creek. The site now lies beneath the waters of the reservoir.
Log cabins still stand in this area, a reflection of our heritage. A walk through the park's own Pioneer Farm provides further insight into the settlers' lives. Construction of the dam on Paint Creek started in 1967, and the site was dedicated as a state park in 1972. |
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| | Note to Park related businesses:
List your vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental or any other park related activity, park related attraction or park related service on Google or StateParks.com. (more).... |
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| Local Visitor Information Web Sites |
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| Related Links: |
| Local Mountain Biking - Where to ride - Spring Guide: Cincinnati.Com - Cincinnati.Com's Spring Guide 2001 | | Paraclete Xtreme Sports Team - Paraclete Xtreme Sports Team tries to race as often as time and money (and our bodies!) allow. We race at different events and different cities throughout the year and as our member base grows,... | | MtbREVIEW.com Trail Reviews - Whether you.re searching for used bike, bicycle classifieds, used mountain bike, mountain bike for sale, bicycle wheels, mountain bike frame, mountain bike tire, bike frame, bike tire,... | | Bucyrus Outdoors - I News l Message Board l Post a Photo I l View Photos I Outdoor Column I. Welcome to Bucyrus Outdoors! This section of Bucyrus Online is for those who love and appreciate hunting, fishing and... |
| Area Attractions: |
| Nearby state parks include Pike Lake, south of Bainbridge, and Rocky Fork, near Hillsboro. Both parks offer camping, hiking and fishing opportunities.
Fort Hill State Memorial, a prehistoric Indian hilltop earthworks, is located south of Paint Creek. Seip Mound State Memorial, built by the Hopewell Indians, is just east of Bainbridge. A dental museum is located in downtown Bainbridge.
Nearby Oldaker and Fallsville wildlife areas offer hunting, fishing and wildlife observation. Miller Nature Sanctuary, a state nature preserve, contains rare native Ohio plants, outstanding geologic formations and several dolomite caves. Access is by written permission only by contacting the chief of the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. |
| Area Campgrounds | | Chaparral Family Campground
10136 W Middletown Rd
Salem, OH
(330) 337-9381
| Ponderosa Park
9362 Salem Warren Rd
Salem, OH
(330) 332-0044
| Timashamie Family Campground
28251 Georgetown Rd
Salem, OH
(330) 525-7054
| Rocky Fork State Park
9800 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-4284
| Cedar Hill Campground
10186 Thomas Rd
Leesburg, OH
(937) 780-2267
| Lake Hill Campground
2466 Musselman Station Road
Frankfort, OH
(740) 998-5648
| Rocky Fork State Park: Park Office
9800 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-4284
| Babington Camping & Mobile Hm
11993 Spruance Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 466-2323
| Shady Trails Family Campground
11145 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-5618
| L B Camping
2483 Greenbriar Rd
Bainbridge, OH
(740) 493-4614
| Long's Retreat & Campground
50 Bell Hollow Rd
Latham, OH
(937) 588-3725
| Tanglewood Acres Horse Camp
2779 Pike Lake Rd
Bainbridge, OH
(740) 493-3142
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| | Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Hirn's Corner
3504 Us Highway 50 W
Bainbridge, OH
(740) 634-3286
| Willard's Lake
3605 Us Highway 50
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 364-6134
| Cast Away Lakes
4098 E Danville Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 288-0104
| Highland Lakes Inc
2850 McAfee Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 927-9103
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| | Area Resorts and Lodging | | North Bay Cottages
11083 N Shore Dr
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-2849
| Tu-Lakes Motel
7420 N Beach Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 393-1917
| Lazy H Cabin Rentals
14889 Old 50
Bainbridge, OH
(937) 365-1961
| Holiday Cottages
6837 Mccoppin Mill Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 365-1331
| Cedar Trails Nudist Retreat
11 Cow Run Rd
Hillsboro, OH
(937) 764-1365
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| Directions: |
| 14265 U.S. Route 50, Bainbridge, Ohio 45612 |
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