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Paint Creek State Park facts for kids

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Paint Creek State Park
Marina with boats
Paint Creek Lake marina
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Location Highland and Ross counties, Ohio, United States
Area 5,652 acres (2,287 ha)
Elevation 850 ft (260 m)
Established 1972
Administered by Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Designation Ohio state park
Website Paint Creek State Park

Paint Creek State Park is a super cool place in Ohio where you can have lots of fun outdoors! It covers a huge area of about 5,652 acres. That's like over 4,000 football fields! This awesome park is located in two counties: Highland and Ross.

The main attraction at Paint Creek State Park is a big lake called Paint Creek Lake. This lake isn't natural; it's a reservoir. A reservoir is a large, artificial lake used to store water. Paint Creek Lake was made by building a dam across Paint Creek. Work on the dam started in 1967, and the park officially opened its doors in 1972.

Exploring Paint Creek State Park

Paint Creek State Park is managed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They make sure the park is a great place for everyone to visit. You can enjoy many activities here, like boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking. The park is a wonderful spot to connect with nature and have adventures.

Amazing Rocks and Rare Plants

Underneath Paint Creek State Park, the ground is made of a type of rock called limestone. You can see some really cool limestone cliffs and deep valleys, called gorges, just below the dam. These rocky areas are perfect for exploring and hiking.

These special bluffs and gorges are home to some very rare plants. One of them is called Coolwort (Sullivantia). It's a wildflower that's super hard to find in Ohio! You can also spot an amazing group of Smooth Cliffbrake (Pellaea glabella) ferns growing there. It's like a secret garden for unique plants!

Nearby Nature Sanctuary

Right next to Paint Creek State Park, there's a special place called the Highlands Nature Sanctuary. This is a private nature reserve that covers about 2,068 acres. It's a protected area where nature can thrive, and it connects with the park, making the whole area even bigger for wildlife.

Images for kids

  • PCSP4

    Park office

  • PCSP2

    Body of water in front of dam

  • PCSP3

    Creek bed below dam

  • PCSP13

    Boat launch area with intake in the background

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Paint Creek State Park Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.