Paint Creek Lake

Bicycling
Bicycles are permitted on main roads, day use areas, and campground areas. There is a mountain bike - hiking trail that begins at the State Park campground called the Appaloosa Run Trail with north south loops (4 to 6 miles). Views of the lake can be seen from various parts of the trail and picnic areas are located along the trail. There are numerous stream crossings, open meadows, and wooded hillsides. Mountain bikes are prohibited on the Milkweed Meadow Trail and Little Pond Trail. Contact a Park Attendant or Ranger for the location of these trails.

Boating
Paint Creek is a popular destination for canoeists and kayakers who take advantage of occasional special releases.  In 2013, in partnership with Boy Scout Troop 5002, two concrete stepped creek access points were constructed in the downstream recreation area.  These access points provide safe access to Paint Creek for paddlers as well as enabling easier access to anglers who wish to fish from the creek bank.

Camping
Campgrounds are located off Taylor Road and are operated by the State Park. The scenic hilltop campground has 199 sites equipped with electricity.

Fishing
Paint Creek has long been a popular fishing stream. The lake includes white and black crappie, blue gill, smallmouth and spotted bass, rockbass, suckers, darters, channel catfish, and Saugeye. When the lake was initially impounded, it was not stocked because of the healthy native fish population. The ODNR's Division of Wildlife conducted a 5-year comprehensive survey, ending in 1979, and is continuing the no stocking program, except for continuing to stock Saugeye. State fishing and hunting regulations apply to the lake and the surrounding federally - owned property.

Hiking
Several trails are located at Paint Creek Lake. Located at the Dam Site Recreation area are Little Pond Trail, and Harmony Trail. Located on State Park areas are the Appaloosa Run Trail, Log Cabin Bridal Trail, Snowmobile Trail, Rattlesnake Bridal Trail, Cross Country Ski Trail, Fern Hollow Trail, and Milkweed Meadow Trail.

Horseback Riding
Paint Creek State Park provides a variety of well marked and maintained bridle trails and a horse camp for anyone who enjoys horseback riding. A large staging area is located near the Pioneer farm where riders can get a trail map and choose appropriate trail loops for a short ride of a few hours or a whole day of riding. There is a main loop that is 18 miles long, the middle loop 13 miles in length, and the short loop of 7 miles.

Hunting
In addition to fishing, hunting is also very popular at Paint Creek.  Bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, cottontail rabbit, white-tailed deer, fox and gray squirrels, and groundhogs are the major game species.  Wildlife habitat includes established woodland as well as grasslands.  Waterfowl hunting is available on the lake as well as Rattlesnake Creek and Paint Creek, which both flow into Paint Creek Lake.  There are several parking areas located around the project boundary to facilitate access to wildlife hunting areas.  State fishing and hunting regulations apply to the lake and surrounding federally owned property.

Marina
The marina is located on Deer Park Road directly off of Route 50. The marina provides docking facilities, boat rentals, snacks, fuel, and fishing supplies.

Picnicking
Two picnic shelters are located at the Corps of Engineers Paint Creek Damsite area. All shelters are available on a first come - first served basis EXCEPT WHEN RESERVED IN ADVANCE (a fee is required for reserving a shelter). Reservations may be made 360 days in advance by contacting the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) at 1-877-444-6777, toll free or buy visiting www.recreation.gov. Specify the state of Ohio and Paint Creek Damsite Area to the customer service representative. For additional shelter information, call the project office at (937) 365-1470. In the State Park managed areas, Deer Park and Rattlesnake Recreation Areas and the Shoemaker Beach area also offer shaded picnic tables.

Swimming
There is a swimming beach located on Upp Road off of Route 50. No lifeguards are working there and it is currently swim at your own risk.

Handicapped Access
Universally Accessible Facilities are provided at the Corps Project Office, and in the State Park areas.

Historical Info
The Paint Creek Lake area offers several points of interest within a short drive. Visitors can enjoy geographical features created by glacial activity, Native American cultural areas, and other cultural points of interest. To name just a few, those opportunities include: Highland Nature Sanctuary, outdoor drama - Tecumseh held at Sugarloaf Outdoor Drama Theater, Serpent Mound, Seip Mound, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, and Rocky Fork Lake. Glaciers destroyed the Teays River and created the Ohio River. The Ice Age began 1,000,000 years ago and ended 10,000 years ago. In central Ohio, the ice sheet crept to Chillicothe where it blocked the mightiest prehistoric river in North America-the Teays. A thousand miles long, the Teays headed in North Carolina and flowed through Virginia to the present site of Portsmouth. There it swerved northward to Chillicothe, then westward across Indiana to the present Illinois River valley, then south to the Gulf of Mexico just below St. Louis. Blocked by the ice, the Teays formed a 200-mile lake extending back to New River Gorge, 40 miles east of Charleston, WV. It covered the present sites of Portsmouth, Ashland, KY, Huntington and Charleston. The Ohio River developed from glacial drainage. The original path of the Teays today is followed by the New and Kanawha rivers from North Carolina to Nitro, WV, and by the Ohio from Huntington to Portsmouth. In addition to its unique geologic setting between the glaciated plain and Appalachian Plateau, the lake lies in the midst of prehistoric Native American village sites and mound building activity. Nearby evidence indicates the former presence of the Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Adena, Hopewell, and Fort Ancient cultures. Seip Mound is adjacent to U.S. 50 between Bainbridge and Bourneville. The Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is on Route 104 just north of Chillicothe, Ohio's first capital. In modern times, the area was common ground for the Native American Tah-gah-jute and later named Logan, and Tecumseh whose dream of an Indian confederacy is told in the outdoor drama at Chillicothe. The limestone and dolomite formations are highlighted at the nearby Highland Nature Sanctuary, formerly called Seven Caves, which are an Ohio Natural Landmark. As a non-profit organization, admission is by voluntary donation.  The caves are now closed for exploration as an attempt to slow the spread of white-nose bat syndrome and bat habitat is being restored.  Rocky Fork State Park, near Hillsboro, surrounds a lake developed in 1953 by the state of Ohio for conservation and recreation.

General Policies
A full list of Federal regulations that apply to all US Army Corps of Engineers properties can be found in Title 36 of the United States Code (USC). Title 36, The Rules and Regulations that Govern Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects.

Firearms
Possession of firearms in a federal facility, including locks, dams, power plants, ranger stations, buildings, switchyards, recreation facilities, warehouses, and offices is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes the storage or transporting of a personally owned firearm in controlled access parking areas or Government vehicles, heavy equipment, boats and vessels under the operational control of the District regardless of its location. Exceptions for Federal employees are only allowed for Federal law enforcement officers or where possession of a firearm is specifically authorized by law.

Fireworks
Fireworks, along with explosives, firearms and other weapons are prohibited on Government Property. Detailed information can be found in Title 36, The Rules and Regulations that Govern Corps of Engineers Water Resource Projects, Section 327.13.