Paint Creek originates in a small marsh south of Ellsworth Road in Pittsfield Township. It runs parallel to Ellsworth Road going east, turns north and enters a culvert under Ellsworth Road, exiting the culvert into Montibeller Park. From Montibeller Park, it enters a culvert near the intersection of Cole Boulevard and Hillside Drive, and exits the culvert east of the intersection of Golfside Road and Packard Street, entering a golfcourse where its channel has been artificially widened into a pond. After exiting this pond the creek enters another culvert in the northeast corner of the golfcourse, flowing east along Packard Street, turning south along Hewitt Road, turns back East to flow roughly parallel to Valley Drive, before turning south to Congress Road east of Hewitt Road, where it exits the second culvert. Paint Creek continues roughly south parallel to Stevens Drive, then turning southeast to go under Michigan Avenuenorth east of Michigan Avenue's intersection with Ellsworth Road. Paint Creek continues southeast crossing under Interstate 94 after which it roughly follows Huron Street south, turning southeast under Stony Creek Road toward Whittaker Road, which it follows west of. Near the intersection of Whittaker Road and Merrit Road Paint Creek turns east crossing under Whittaker, before continuing following Whittaker before turning more southeast and crossing under Martz Road, after which it turns dead south following Turtle Hill Road, all the way to its mouth where it discharges into Stony Creek.
Cities and townships
Paint Creek flows through the following areas, in order of progression downstream:
The stream flows back into Ypsilanti Township and heads southeast into Augusta Township
London Township, where it joins Stony Creek immediately after entering. This is the only part of the creek that lies within Monroe County.
Water quality
From its origins, Paint Creek is either utilized as a storm drain itself or is a discharge point for other storm drains. Many portions of Paint Creek are channelized, have had riparian vegetation removed, and/or have been diverted into underground culverts. The poor management of this stream is evident by characteristics such as frequent flash floods, high turbidity, abundant litter, and severe stream side erosion.
