Paint Creek Lake

About Paint Creek Lake

Impressive, prehistoric Indian sites in the central Scioto River basin are in the vicinity of this lake. Rock climbing is permitted on the Harmony Trail wall and the Spillway walls only. Climbing maps are available at the Corps of Engineers office. Minimum impact climbing practices are encouraged. No lead climbing, no bolting, natural colored chalk only, bouldering no more than 4 ft. off the ground, and climb during daylight hours only.}

How to Get There

Paint Creek Lake is located on Paint Creek, which originates 30 miles southwest of Columbus, Ohio. From Columbus take Route 23 south to Chillicothe. From Chillicothe take Route 50 west for 20 miles to Rapid Forge Road, turn right for 2.1 miles, entrance will be located on the left. When coming from Hillsboro take Route 50 east for 20 miles to Rapid Forge Road, turn right for 2.1 miles, entrance will be located on the left. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office is located on Rapid Forge Road off of Route 50. The State Park Office is located on Route 50.

Plan Your Visit to Paint Creek Lake

Heading to Paint Creek Lake? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)