Paint Creek State Park RV & Campground Guide

Fishers are welcome to cast from the shore, go out on the lake in paddle vessels, or use any of multiple boat launches in the park. There’s even a marina. The lake is seasonally stocked to ensure great fishing, and fishers catch bass, catfish, sunfish, bluegill, and crappie. Be sure to get an Ohio fishing license before you visit.

You’ll find plenty of varied geocaching options here. There are unique EarthCaches, traditional caches, and special challenges for eager adventurers. Paint Creek State Park sometimes joins in state-wide park geocaching challenges as well.

The park is a great place for bird watchers, with lots of quail, pheasants, ducks, and songbirds. Setting up a camp chair near the water may lead to great blue heron or great egret sightings. There are also killdeer, ospreys, owls, hawks, wild turkeys, and lots of migratory waterfowl. Some animals may wander into the campground, and you could watch the local deer or foxes wander by as you eat breakfast.

With its remote location in rural Ohio and the wide swath of open sky over the lake, the park offers great stargazing opportunities. Stargazing is almost always better in cooler weather when there’s less chance of atmospheric haze, but there’s a good view on clear nights year-round.

The flora in the park includes meadowlands and woods around a large reservoir, so there’s a mix of biomes, with lots of diverse plant life. There are lots of flowers in the spring, and the array of deciduous trees turn fiery shades in autumn. The lake is stocked with fish and has plenty of frogs. Migratory waterfowl like to stop here, and there are many species of ducks and their predators, including the occasional bald eagle. Deer, raccoons, weasels, mink, red foxes, and grey foxes also live in the area.

Multiple trails lead guests along the edge of the lake and into the wooded hills around it. To get a tour of the park, try the 8.9-mile, unpaved Paint Creek East Trail Loop. It’s moderately difficult and twines through pine stands, meadows, and deciduous woods. Guests looking for an easier, family-friendly trail can try the 0.5-mile Harmony Trail. The small loop has lovely wildflowers in spring and leads down along the water.

You’ll find multiple launches and lots to explore by water in Paint Creek State Park. The park works with a small local company to rent boats Thursday through Sunday, including pontoon boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. Pontoon boat rentals include gas and range from $60-$100 per hour. Kayaks are $10-$20 per hour, and paddleboards are $15 per hour.

The park offers designated swimming areas in Paint Creek Lake, including a beach. Swimmers are asked to use caution, and no animals are allowed on the beach or in the water.

Biking is welcome in the park. Horses and hikers use the same trails, so bikers should ride with caution. The Paint Creek East Trail Loop is one of the best trails for mountain biking and offers fun, low-incline hills.