Colorado Places: Their Native American Names

This is a project to document in one place all the Indigenous place names known for Colorado. Eventually, we plan to have a scroll-over map, and ideally sound recordings of each name. Prior to that, we will eventually have at least have a guide to the orthography for each Indigenous language. But until that time, we are operating on the principle that something is better than nothing. So below is a list of Colorado places, and the Indigenous name for that place (in as many languages as available). Where we have it, we give the Indigenous word. In other cases, we have only the Indigenous translation, but not yet the original word. We will use the official established tribal orthography in all cases to write the Indigenous languages.

Colorado English NameIndigenous Name = Meaning of Indigenous NameԲܲ
Apishapa River

ōevozeoho = ‘quarreling river’

Cheyenne
Arikaree River

ononeohe = ‘arikara river’s

pȟaláni wakpá = Arikara River

ԲԱ

dzٲ

Arkansas River

mozooeneohe = ‘flint arrowpoint river’ > motsėsóon-e- -ó’h’e

‘arrowhead/flint river’

‘long river’

wahíŋ wakpá = flint river ***

Cheyenne

Kiowa


Pawnee

dzٲ

Bear Creek (flows into Arkansas River)

‘bison bull river’ [may be Two Buttes Creek]

‘buck antelope corral creek’

Ƿɲ


Ƿɲ

Beaver Creek/Little Beaver Creek (flows into Republican River)

Beaver River

Beaver Water
Cheyenne

Pawnee

Black Mesa


‘dark cove/bluff concavity’
bluff in Baca or Las Animas County

Ƿɲ

Caddo Creek or Rate Creek (enters Arkansas)


'prickly pear creek'


Ƿɲ
Cimarron River

hotoaeohe = ‘bull river’ > hotóá’e- -ó’h’e

‘buffalo bull river’; formerly ‘many pipe dance river’

Cheyenne

Kiowa

Clay Creek(enters Arkansas River; Prowers County, CO)'creek where there is paint'

'hill creek'
Kiowa

Ƿɲ
Colorado River'big river'Ƿɲ

Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs

‘boiling water’

'Medicine Fountain'
Kiowa

Arapaho
Crow Creek (enter South Platte River)‘Crow (Indian) river’ or ‘crow (bird) river’ԲԱ
Denverȟeská otȟúŋwahe = rocky mountaindzٲ
Fountain Creek

esevoteohe = ‘seething river’

Cheyenne

Frenchman Creek (flows into Republican River)

vehoeohe = ‘white man’s river’ > vé’ho’é- -ó’h’e

Cheyenne
Laramie Riverhenaeneohe = ‘goose river’ > héna‘e- -ó’h’e

mağá wakpá = goose river ***

Cheyenne

dzٲ

Longs Peakesevonevē = buffalo peak/lodge/tipiCheyenne

Manitou Springs/Fontaine qui bouille Creek

'boiling river'
'spring creek'
'boiling water'

Cheyenne
Kiowa
Ƿɲ

Mud Creek (flows into Arkansas River)

hekōmaeohe ‘miry creek’ or ‘soft ground’ > ’kó’o’e-Cheyenne
North Platte Rivermeneeohe = ‘shell river’ԲԱ
Pikes Peak

‘white mountain’ [see Lakota for Rocky Mountains]

ookoomenevós or ookoomeneta = bald peak > Ǵ’k-

Ƿɲ


ԲԱ

Platte River

pȟaŋkéska wakpá = shell river *** [North Platte]

meneeohe = ‘shell river’ : méne’e-


dzٲ


Cheyenne

Purgatory River (or Las Animas River)

hotoanaohe = ‘difficult river’ : hótoaná- -ó’h’e

'rock river'
Cheyenne


Ƿɲ
Redwillow River, flows into Republican below Beecher's IslandMakōmehesseohe = red willow river > ma’ó‘hamó‘seo‘o- ?? -ó’h’eԲԱ
Republican River, South Forkvehoneohe = ‘chief river’ > véhon- -ó’h’eԲԱ

Republican River, North Fork

‘cannonball river’ (Republican generally)

mahōhevaeohe = ‘red shield river’ (Republican generally)

‘manure river’ (Republican generally)

pȟaŋğí wakpá = Jerusalem Artichoke river (Republican generally) ***

Petter CH: hohozeohe(?) = ‘artichoke river’ [but no location given]

Ƿɲ



Cheyenne


Pawnee

dzٲ

Rio Grande RiverVehoeohe=white man riverԲԱ
Rocky Mountains'Ute Mountains'

ȟe-ská = mountain-white ***

hohona, pl. hohonā = rock, rocks = ho‘honaáá‘e
Ƿɲ

dzٲ

ԲԱ
Salt Fork of the Arkansasvoxpomaozeohe = ‘salt river‘ = vóhpoma‘őtse- -ó’h’eԲԱ
Sand Creek

ponoeohe = ‘dry creek’ > pónoe- -ó’h’e

'dry creek'


ԲԱ


Ƿɲ
Smoky Hill River, South River'pawnee river'
'sandy river'

manóeohe = ‘bunch of trees river’ (Smoky Hill generally) or ‘timber grove river’

‘yellow banks’ (Smoky Hill generally)
Ƿɲ
Kiowa

Cheyenne



Pawnee
South Platte River'fat/tallow river'

'vitaneohe = 'fat/tallow river' > veta- -ó’h’e

'broad river' (Platte generally)

wašíŋ wakpá = tallow river ***

Ƿɲ

ԲԱ


Pawnee

dzٲ
Two/Twin Buttes:

‘hill’ or ‘two hills’ (287)


Kiowa
Two Butte Creek'driftwood creek'Kiowa
Yellowpaint River (Flows into Purgatory River)

heovoneohe ‘yellowpaint river’ > heóv- -ó’h’e

Cheyenne
Achonee, Mount, Grand, COChief ó‘kénėstse ‘One Eye’ ***ԲԱ
Amache, Camp, ProwersCO

Chief’s Daughter amåhtóohe ‘Howls Along Woman’ ?? ***

Cheyenne
Arapaho Name Places in Colorado
PlacesArapaho NameArapaho Translated to English
Baker Mountain/Pass, Grand CO heeyeisoono'toh'ou3i'IWhere The Sparrow Hawk's Young Hang
Baker-Brooks Meadow, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)heebe3iboo3etiitBig Battle
Bartholf Park/ Glacier Basin, RMNPheetohso'owu'Where the Land is Flat
Beaver Creek, RMNPbih'ihiikoh'owu'Deer Creek
Bierstadt Lake, RMNPni'ec honoute'Hanging Lake
Big Creek Lake, Jackson COni'eciikoh'owu' Lake Creek
Big Meadows, RMNPtoonoxutee'It is a Meadow
Big Thompson River. RMNPhiicoooThe Pipe River
Blue River, Summit CObiisee3 tih'iikou'uni'Were Blue Paint was Gathered
Boulder Brook, RMNPce'eiinoonoohoetRawhide Dish
Buckhorn Creek, Jackson COcoo'oo'oe'Thick Brush
Buffalo Mountain, Jackson COhii3einoteyoo'Buffalo Mountain
Buffalo Pass, Jackson COheneeceiboooBuffalo Trail
Bull Frog Rock and Sheep Creek, RMNPniiinonThe Tipi
Cabin Creek, RMNPwoo3ee3i' hebesiiLots of Beaver
Chauncey, Mount, Grand CO beiines heetohkokoyoo'Square Forts
Hosa, Jefferson COhouusoo

Chiefs Name: Crow Offspring

Chiefs Head Peak, RMNPhookuhu'eenoHeads
Clarks Peak, Larimer, COhiwoxuuhuunisoo'Elks Horn
Collegiate Range and Mount Massive, Lake CO hiwoxuu hookuhu'eeElk's Head
Craig, Mount, RMNPneneehii3ei'oteyoo'Middle Mountain
Crystal Mountain, Larimer COhinooox hoono'uuMica Hill
Cub Lake, RMNPtihoo'oenootee' ni'eci'Where there was a Camp around the lake
Deer Mountain, RMNPcenii3oteyoo'Going-Inside Mountain
Denver, Denver CO niineniiniicieTallow River
Devil's Washboard/McCreary, RMNPhoh'onookeenooxebRock Spring
Eagle Rock and School Section Rocks, Larimer COnouuteyoono' Bone Pipes
Echo, Shadow and Lookout Mountain, RMNPbeniisoteyoo' Piney Mountain
Elk River, Jackson CO neetookooneeniiciihehe'Drowning River
Enetah, Mount, RMNP hineniteenoteyoo' Person Mountain
Estes Cone and Wind River Cliffs, RMNPneneesoteyou'uThree Mountains
Estes Park, Larimer COheetko'einoo'Where it is Circular
Fall River, RMNPhecesiicoooLittle Pipe River
Flatiron Mountain, Larimer CO neenowuxootei'iThey Face to The North
Flattop Mountain, RMNPheebe3boooBig Trail
Fountain Creek, El Paso, COkonootoowu' Boiling Water
Fraser River, Grand CObenii3oonoo' It is Steep
Giant track Mountain, Larimer, COhinenitee tohnooxeihitGiant Tracks
Glacier Basin, RMNPheetohso'owu'Where the Land is Flat
Grand Lake, Grand, CObeteeni'ecHoly Lake
Grand Lake, Grand, COheebe3ni'ecBig Lake
Grand Lake, south point of, Grand COkokuy Gun
Grand Lake area, Grand COce'eiinoxGame Bag
Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, Summit COheeniiyoowuuAnt Hills
Green Mountain ?Sage Hills
Hallett Peak, RMNPbonoh'ooonoteyoo'Thunder Peak
Harm's Peaknii'eetei'i tih'iikou'uni'iWhere White Turnips were Gathered
Haynach Lakes, RMNPhiiinecSnow Water
Hedricks Flats, RMNPniitohnonouhti'Where We Race
Horseshoe Park, RMNPciitoowuu'Inside the Lodge
I-25, CO/WY border, rock formation, Larimer COnih'iitkotousi'IWhere They Took Shelter
James Peak and south, Gilpin COhooxei hookute'Wolf's Canine
Joe Wright Creek, Larimer COhiwoxuukoh'owu'Elk Creek
Julian, Mount, to Stones Peak and intervening area, RMNPwoxse'eihtoo The Bear Paws
Kaly Cook Springs, RMNPhoh'onookeenooxebRock Spring
Kawuneeche Valley, RMNP koo'ohwuuniiciiCoyote River
Kawuneeche Valey, area in, RMNPbexookeinokoyMountain Lions' Den
Lake Haiyaha, RMNPhoh'oooyoo'Rocks All Around
Laramie Plains, Larimer, COheneeceiboooBuffalo Trail
Lily Lake, RMNPhebesokoyBeaver Lodge
Lily Mountain, RMNPheebesokoyonoteyoo' Beaver Lodge Mountain
Little Beaver Creekboo'oowu'Flows Red
Little Beaver Riverhonooxoehibiisii'iini' Bullberry Bushes
Longs Peak, RMNPneniisoteyou'uTwo Mountains
Longs Peak Inn Area, Larimer COhisei tih'iinoxowuso'oneit besWhere Woman Was Killed
Lookout, Shadow and Echo Mountain, RMNPbeniisoteyoo' Piney Mountain
Lulu Pass, RMNPbooh'ooni3esoo'Thunder Pass
Manitou Springs, El Paso CObeteenooxebHoly Spring
Massive, Mount and Collegiate Range, Lake COhiwoxuu hookuhu'eeElk's Head
McCreery Hill Spring, RMNP bih'ihiikoh'owu'Deer Creek
McHenry's Peak , RMNPbeniixoteyou'u Bare Miuntains
Michigan Creek , Jackson CO bei'i'einiiciihehe'Little Shell Creek
Kawuneeche Valley, area in, RMNPtoh'okooxeeeni' Where We Get Poles
Mills Lake, RMNPteiitooni'ecStill Lake
Milner Pass, RMNPbih'iiboooDeer Road
Mountain, east side of North Park, Jackson COheneeceinokoyBuffalo Lodge
Mummy Range, RMNPnookbee3eino'White Owls
Needles, Larimer CO3ee3i'oteyoo'Lumpy Mountain
Neota Mountain, Larimer COhote' hiteeMountain Sheeps Heart
Nisa, Mount, RMNP niisooTwin
Niwot City, Boulder COnowoo3Chiefs Name; Left Hand. Arapaho Chief
Niwot Mountain, Boulder COnowoo3Chiefs Name; Left Hand. Arapaho Chief
Nokhu Craggs, Jackson COnohuuxSaw Tooth Mountain or Eagles Nest
North Park, Jackson COheneeceiboooBuffalo Road
Kawuneeche Valley, area in, RMNPhiwoxuuhuu3o'ohcooPounded Elk Meat
Notchtop Mountain, RMNPhoteinetihiiMountain Sheeps Trail
Old Man Mountain, Larimer COhinen toh3i'okutWhere a Man is Sitting
Olympus, Mount, and two other mountains, Larimer COneeneb3i'eiitei'iFaces to the Wind
Onahu Creek, RMNPhoonouhutWarms Himself
Owl Canyon, Larimer COhookoh'o' heetohwoo3ee3ei'Where there are Many Miller Moths
Park on West Creek, RMNPwoo'teenehi3i' niih'eikuhnee3i'Where Utes were Scattered
Pikes Peak, El Paso CO heeyoteyoo'

Long or Tall Mountain

Porphyry Peaks , Grand COhite3ounokoy Crane Lodge
Poudre Valley, Larimer COce'eiinox

Game Bag

Prospect Mountain, Larimer CObiixuut The Shirt
Never Summer Mountains, Grand COniiciibiicei'iIt is Never Summer
Sage Brush Flats, Grand CO nookhoosei'iini'There is Lots of Sagebrush
Seven Utes Mountain, Jackson COniisootoxu3i' heetohwo'teenehi3i'The Seven Utes
Shadow, Lookout and Echo Mountain, RMNPbeniisoteyoo'Piney Mountain
Signal Peak, RMNPhonooxoenoteyoo'Wolf Mountain
Signal Peak/Mountain, RMNPtooxu'oo' hisei to'uut Womans Sharp Hammer
Owl Creek, Jackson CO nihoonoobe' Yellow Paint/Earth
Specimen Mountain, RMNPheetohxouu'oo'Where it Smokes
Steep Mountain , RMNPheneecee teesnoh'kuhneet Buffalo Bill Chased up to the top


is Petter’s Cheyenne dictionary, river names. See also entry for ‘mountain’ and ‘peak’