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 Name Indigenous Name = Meaning of Indigenous Name Language 
Apishapa River 

ōevozeoho = ‘quarreling river’

Cheyenne
Arikaree River 

ononeohe = ‘arikara river’s

pȟaláni wakpá = Arikara River 

Cheyenne 

Lakota 

Arkansas River

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

‘arrowhead/flint river’

‘long river’

wahíŋ wakpá = flint river ***

Cheyenne

Kiowa


Pawnee

Lakota 

Bear Creek (flows into Arkansas River)

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

‘buck antelope corral creek’

Kiowa 


Kiowa 

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

Kiowa 

Caddo Creek or Rate Creek (enters Arkansas)


'prickly pear creek'


Kiowa 
Cimarron River 

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

Kiowa 
Colorado River'big river' Kiowa 

Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs

‘boiling water’

'Medicine Fountain'
Kiowa

Arapaho 
Crow Creek (enter South Platte River) ‘Crow (Indian) river’ or ‘crow (bird) river’Cheyenne 
Denver ȟeská otȟúŋwahe = rocky mountain Lakota 
Fountain Creek

esevoteohe = ‘seething river’

Cheyenne

Frenchman Creek (flows into Republican River)

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

Cheyenne
Laramie River henaeneohe = ‘goose river’ > héna‘e- -ó’he’e

mağá wakpá = goose river ***

Cheyenne

Lakota 

Longs Peak esevonevē = buffalo peak/lodge/tipiCheyenne

Manitou Springs/Fontaine qui bouille Creek

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

Cheyenne
Kiowa
Kiowa 

Mud Creek (flows into Arkansas River)

hekōmaeohe ‘miry creek’ or ‘soft ground’ > he’kóma’o’e-Cheyenne
North Platte River meneeohe = ‘shell river’Cheyenne 
Pikes Peak 

‘white mountain’ [see Lakota for Rocky Mountains]

ookoomenevós or ookoomeneta = bald peak > oo’k-

Kiowa 

 


Cheyenne 

Platte River 

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

meneeohe = ‘shell river’ : méne’e-


Lakota 


Cheyenne

Purgatory River (or Las Animas River)

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

'rock river'
Cheyenne


Kiowa 
Redwillow River, flows into Republican below Beecher's Island Makōmehesseohe = red willow river > ma’ó‘hamó‘seo‘o- ?? -ó’he’eCheyenne 
Republican River, South Fork vehoneohe = ‘chief river’ > véhon- -ó’he’eCheyenne 

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]

Kiowa 



Cheyenne


Pawnee

Lakota   

Rio Grande River Vehoeohe=white man river Cheyenne 
Rocky Mountains 'Ute Mountains'

ȟe-ská = mountain-white ***

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

Lakota 

Cheyenne 
Salt Fork of the Arkansas voxpomaozeohe = ‘salt river‘ = vóhpoma‘őtse- -ó’he’e Cheyenne 
Sand Creek 

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

'dry creek'


Cheyenne 


Kiowa 
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)
Kiowa 
Kiowa

Cheyenne



Pawnee
South Platte River 'fat/tallow river'

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

'broad river' (Platte generally)

 wašíŋ wakpá = tallow river ***

 
Kiowa 

Cheyenne 


Pawnee

Lakota 
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’he’e

Cheyenne
Achonee, Mount, Grand, CO Chief  ó‘kénėstse ‘One Eye’ ***Cheyenne 
Amache, Camp, ProwersCO 

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

 

Cheyenne
Arapaho Name Places in Colorado  
Places Arapaho NameArapaho Translated to English 
Baker Mountain/Pass, Grand CO               heeyeisoono'toh'ou3i'I Where The Sparrow Hawk's Young Hang
Baker-Brooks Meadow, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP)heebe3iboo3etiit Big 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 CO ni'eciikoh'owu'   Lake Creek
Big Meadows, RMNPtoonoxutee'It is a Meadow
Big Thompson River. RMNPhiicoooThe Pipe River
Blue River, Summit CO biisee3 tih'iikou'uni'Were Blue Paint was Gathered
Boulder Brook, RMNPce'eiinoonoohoetRawhide Dish
Buckhorn Creek, Jackson CO coo'oo'oe'Thick Brush 
Buffalo Mountain, Jackson CO hii3einoteyoo'Buffalo Mountain 
Buffalo Pass, Jackson COheneeceiboooBuffalo Trail 
Bull Frog Rock and Sheep Creek, RMNP niiinonThe 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, RMNP hookuhu'eenoHeads
Clarks Peak, Larimer, CO hiwoxuuhuunisoo'Elks Horn 
Collegiate Range and Mount Massive, Lake CO    hiwoxuu hookuhu'eeElk's Head 
Craig, Mount, RMNP neneehii3ei'oteyoo'Middle Mountain
Crystal Mountain, Larimer CO hinooox hoono'uuMica Hill 
Cub Lake, RMNPtihoo'oenootee' ni'eci'Where there was a Camp around the lake
Deer Mountain, RMNP cenii3oteyoo'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 CO heetko'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, CO konootoowu'     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, RMNP  ciitoowuu'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, RMNPbexookeinokoy  Mountain Lions' Den
Lake Haiyaha, RMNPhoh'oooyoo'Rocks All Around
Laramie Plains, Larimer, CO heneeceiboooBuffalo 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, RMNP neniisoteyou'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 CO 3ee3i'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 COnohuux  Saw 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 CO  hinen 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                , RMNP heneecee teesnoh'kuhneet          Buffalo Bill Chased up to the top
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

 


 

 

 

https://archive.org/details/Ayer_421_C25_P49_1915/page/n1083/mode/2up is Petter’s Cheyenne dictionary, river names. See also entry for ‘mountain’ and ‘peak’