Rattlesnake Creek is a tributary of Paint Creek,[1] 42.3miles long,[2] in south-central Ohio in the United States. Via Paint Creek and the Scioto and Ohio Rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 277mi2.[2] According to the Geographic Names Information System, it has also been known historically as "Rattlesnake Fork."
Rattlesnake Creek rises near South Solon in southwestern Madison County, and flows generally southeastwardly through Fayette, Clinton and Highland counties, past the town of Octa. It joins Paint Creek in Paint Creek State Park as an arm of Paint Creek Lake,[3] 5miles south of Greenfield.[1]
Parts of the creek flow through rapids; 3miles in Highland County have been rated Class II (IV) whitewater rapids.[4]
A USGS stream gauge on the creek at Centerfield in Highland County recorded a mean annual discharge of 244.8cuft/s during water years 1972–1981.[5]