No detected openings were recorded in the last 90 days. Campsite Sniper monitors Paint Creek Dam Site continuously and will alert you if that changes.
Of the 210 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026): 210 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
No online availability right now
Load status
Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026Of the 210 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Dec 31, 2026): 210 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Dec 2026No month in range currently shows online availability. 0 open reservation dates across the tracked window — these reservation dates are on sites not offered for online reservation.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 2 day-use units| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open | |
| Thanksgiving | THU Nov 26 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Nov 27 | 0 | None open | |
| SAT Nov 28 | 0 | None open | |
| Christmas | THU Dec 24 | 0 | None open |
| FRI Dec 25 | 0 | None open | |
| New Year | THU Dec 31 | 0 | None open |
Labor Day: no online availability on any tracked date. Thanksgiving: no online availability on any tracked date. Christmas: no online availability on any tracked date. New Year: no online availability on Thursday.
About Paint Creek Dam Site
Overview
Paint Creek Dam Site Area, located on Paint Creek Lake, offers great opportunities for outdoor recreation in the Scioto area of southwestern Ohio. Visitors enjoy boating, fishing, camping, picnicking and rock climbing.
Recreation
The campground is operated by the Ohio Department of State Parks and offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation activities, including mini and disc golf, a nature center and an amphitheater. Other activities on land include picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, hunting and rock climbing. A swimming beach, summer nature programs, three boat ramps, a marina and boat rentals can all be found around the lake. In winter months, sledding and cross-country skiing are available.
The Corps of Engineers downstream recreation area offers picnicking, a trail, a play area and rock climbing opportunities. Two access points to the stream provide kayaking and canoeing opportunities on the river. Paint Creek has long been a popular fishing stream, where white and black crappie, blue gill, smallmouth and spotted bass, rock bass, suckers, darters, channel catfish and saugeye are commonly found.
A 1.5-mile hiking trail meanders near Little Pond, and individual picnic sites with grills are scattered throughout the area and available on a first come, first served basis.
Facilities
Paint Creek Dam Site Area offers two accessible day-use picnic shelters that each accommodate up to 100 people. A visitor center is located on-site.
Little Pond Shelter (Shelter 1) sits next to Little Pond and contains 15-amp electric hookups. Corn hole courts are adjacent, but bean bags are not provided. A water fountain is available at the shelter; a fountain and playground are just across the parking lot from the shelter.
Overlook Shelter (Shelter 2) overlooks the lake and emergency spillway. There is an environmental restroom but it has no water or electric hookups. Overlook Shelter is located near the visitor center which houses a water fountain, flush restrooms and visitor information. A small playground and corn hole courts are adjacent to the shelter and an accessible fishing pier is within walking distance.
Natural Features
The lake is situated among gently rolling hills, where a mix of open meadows and wooded areas cover the shoreline. A variety of songbirds and waterfowl can be found in the area.
Nearby Attractions
The Paint Creek Lake area offers several points of interest within a short drive, including the First Dental School Museum, Highlands Nature Sanctuary and the Sugarloaf Outdoor Drama Theater.
Several points of cultural significance include Tecumseh, Serpent Mound, Seip Mound and the Hopewell Indian Culture National Park.
Rocky Fork State Park, Paint Creek State Park and Pike Lake State Park are all in the area as well, offering additional recreational opportunities.
The nearby cities of Greenfield, Chillicothe, Hillsboro and Washington Courthouse host annual festivals in the spring, summer and fall.
Getting there
From Chillicothe Ohio, take Route 50 west for 18 miles to Bainbridge. Ohio. Three miles past Bainbridge, turn right on Rapid Forge Road. Go 2 miles north and turn left into the Paint Creek Dam Site Area. Little Pond Shelter is located on the right just before crossing the dam. Overlook Shelter is located at the end of the road at the emergency spillway overlook.
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
Photo gallery
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Paint Creek Dam Site?
Campsite Sniper's current snapshot shows none of the 210 tracked reservation dates open for online reservation at Paint Creek Dam Site. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Sep 18, 2026 16:19 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
Does Paint Creek Dam Site have online availability right now?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot, none of the 210 tracked reservation dates are open for online reservation. That can mean dates are reserved, closed, not yet released, or offered first-come, first-served rather than online. A free Campsite Sniper alert tells you if any date opens online.
Let the app watch this shelter
Choose the reservation dates you want at Paint Creek Dam Site.
Campsite Sniper can monitor this facility and notify you if a selected date becomes available.
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.