Rattlesnake Creek (Ohio) facts for kids
Rattlesnake Creek is a cool stream in south-central Ohio, United States. It's like a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. Rattlesnake Creek is a tributary of Paint Creek.
This creek is about 42.3 miles (68.1 kilometers) long. Its water eventually travels through Paint Creek, then the Scioto River, and the Ohio River. Finally, it joins the mighty Mississippi River. All the land that drains water into Rattlesnake Creek is called its watershed. This area covers about 277 square miles (717 square kilometers).
Long ago, people also called this creek "Rattlesnake Fork." This name is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System.
Where Rattlesnake Creek Flows
Rattlesnake Creek begins near a town called South Solon. This is in the southwestern part of Madison County. From there, the creek generally flows towards the southeast.
It travels through several different counties. These include Fayette, Clinton, and Highland counties. The creek even flows past the small town of Octa.
The journey of Rattlesnake Creek ends when it meets Paint Creek. This happens inside Paint Creek State Park. The creek becomes part of Paint Creek Lake, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Greenfield.
Fun Facts About the Creek
Parts of Rattlesnake Creek are quite exciting! Some sections of the creek have whitewater rapids. These are fast-moving, rocky parts of the river. About 3 miles (5 kilometers) of the creek in Highland County are known for these rapids.
These rapids are even rated for how challenging they are. They are considered Class II (IV) rapids. This means they are good for experienced kayakers or rafters.
Scientists also study how much water flows in the creek. A special device called a stream gauge measures the water. One of these gauges is located at Centerfield in Highland County. From 1972 to 1981, this gauge showed that the creek's average water flow was about 244.8 cubic feet per second (6.93 cubic meters per second). That's a lot of water moving every second!
Images for kids
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Rattlesnake Creek as viewed from Ohio State Route 138 in Highland County.
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Rattlesnake Creek sign
