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 | Բܲ |
| 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’ | Cheyenne |
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) |
| 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 |
| Denver | ȟeská otȟúŋwahe = rocky mountain | dzٲ |
| 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 River | henaeneohe = ‘goose river’ > héna‘e- -ó’h’e mağá wakpá = goose river *** | Cheyenne |
| Longs Peak | esevonevē = buffalo peak/lodge/tipi | Cheyenne |
Manitou Springs/Fontaine qui bouille Creek | 'boiling river' | Cheyenne Kiowa Ƿɲ |
Mud Creek (flows into Arkansas River) | hekōmaeohe ‘miry creek’ or ‘soft ground’ > ’kó’o’e- | Cheyenne |
| North Platte River | meneeohe = ‘shell river’ | ԲԱ |
| Pikes Peak | ‘white mountain’ [see Lakota for Rocky Mountains] | Ƿɲ
|
| Platte River | pȟaŋkéska wakpá = shell river *** [North Platte] | 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 Island | Makōmehesseohe = red willow river > ma’ó‘hamó‘seo‘o- ?? -ó’h’e | ԲԱ |
| Republican River, South Fork | vehoneohe = ‘chief river’ > véhon- -ó’h’e | ԲԱ |
Republican River, North Fork | ‘cannonball river’ (Republican generally) pȟaŋğí wakpá = Jerusalem Artichoke river (Republican generally) *** Petter CH: hohozeohe(?) = ‘artichoke river’ [but no location given] | Ƿɲ
|
| Rio Grande River | Vehoeohe=white man river | ԲԱ |
| Rocky Mountains | 'Ute Mountains' ȟe-ská = mountain-white *** hohona, pl. hohonā = rock, rocks = ho‘honaáá‘e | Ƿɲ dzٲ ԲԱ |
| Salt Fork of the Arkansas | voxpomaozeohe = ‘salt river‘ = vóhpoma‘őtse- -ó’h’e | ԲԱ |
| Sand Creek | ponoeohe = ‘dry creek’ > pónoe- -ó’h’e | 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, CO | Chief ó‘kénėstse ‘One Eye’ *** | ԲԱ |
| Amache, Camp, ProwersCO | Chief’s Daughter amåhtóohe ‘Howls Along Woman’ ?? *** | Cheyenne |
| Arapaho Name Places in Colorado | ||
|---|---|---|
| Places | Arapaho Name | Arapaho 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, RMNP | heetohso'owu' | Where the Land is Flat |
| Beaver Creek, RMNP | bih'ihiikoh'owu' | Deer Creek |
| Bierstadt Lake, RMNP | ni'ec honoute' | Hanging Lake |
| Big Creek Lake, Jackson CO | ni'eciikoh'owu' | Lake Creek |
| Big Meadows, RMNP | toonoxutee' | It is a Meadow |
| Big Thompson River. RMNP | hiicooo | The Pipe River |
| Blue River, Summit CO | biisee3 tih'iikou'uni' | Were Blue Paint was Gathered |
| Boulder Brook, RMNP | ce'eiinoonoohoet | Rawhide Dish |
| Buckhorn Creek, Jackson CO | coo'oo'oe' | Thick Brush |
| Buffalo Mountain, Jackson CO | hii3einoteyoo' | Buffalo Mountain |
| Buffalo Pass, Jackson CO | heneeceibooo | Buffalo Trail |
| Bull Frog Rock and Sheep Creek, RMNP | niiinon | The Tipi |
| Cabin Creek, RMNP | woo3ee3i' hebesii | Lots of Beaver |
| Chauncey, Mount, Grand CO | beiines heetohkokoyoo' | Square Forts |
| Hosa, Jefferson CO | houusoo | Chiefs Name: Crow Offspring |
| Chiefs Head Peak, RMNP | hookuhu'eeno | Heads |
| Clarks Peak, Larimer, CO | hiwoxuuhuunisoo' | Elks Horn |
| Collegiate Range and Mount Massive, Lake CO | hiwoxuu hookuhu'ee | Elk's Head |
| Craig, Mount, RMNP | neneehii3ei'oteyoo' | Middle Mountain |
| Crystal Mountain, Larimer CO | hinooox hoono'uu | Mica Hill |
| Cub Lake, RMNP | tihoo'oenootee' ni'eci' | Where there was a Camp around the lake |
| Deer Mountain, RMNP | cenii3oteyoo' | Going-Inside Mountain |
| Denver, Denver CO | niineniiniicie | Tallow River |
| Devil's Washboard/McCreary, RMNP | hoh'onookeenooxeb | Rock Spring |
| Eagle Rock and School Section Rocks, Larimer CO | nouuteyoono' | Bone Pipes |
| Echo, Shadow and Lookout Mountain, RMNP | beniisoteyoo' | Piney Mountain |
| Elk River, Jackson CO | neetookooneeniiciihehe' | Drowning River |
| Enetah, Mount, RMNP | hineniteenoteyoo' | Person Mountain |
| Estes Cone and Wind River Cliffs, RMNP | neneesoteyou'u | Three Mountains |
| Estes Park, Larimer CO | heetko'einoo' | Where it is Circular |
| Fall River, RMNP | hecesiicooo | Little Pipe River |
| Flatiron Mountain, Larimer CO | neenowuxootei'i | They Face to The North |
| Flattop Mountain, RMNP | heebe3booo | Big Trail |
| Fountain Creek, El Paso, CO | konootoowu' | Boiling Water |
| Fraser River, Grand CO | benii3oonoo' | It is Steep |
| Giant track Mountain, Larimer, CO | hinenitee tohnooxeihit | Giant Tracks |
| Glacier Basin, RMNP | heetohso'owu' | Where the Land is Flat |
| Grand Lake, Grand, CO | beteeni'ec | Holy Lake |
| Grand Lake, Grand, CO | heebe3ni'ec | Big Lake |
| Grand Lake, south point of, Grand CO | kokuy | Gun |
| Grand Lake area, Grand CO | ce'eiinox | Game Bag |
| Grays Peak and Torreys Peak, Summit CO | heeniiyoowuu | Ant Hills |
| Green Mountain ? | Sage Hills | |
| Hallett Peak, RMNP | bonoh'ooonoteyoo' | Thunder Peak |
| Harm's Peak | nii'eetei'i tih'iikou'uni'i | Where White Turnips were Gathered |
| Haynach Lakes, RMNP | hiiinec | Snow Water |
| Hedricks Flats, RMNP | niitohnonouhti' | Where We Race |
| Horseshoe Park, RMNP | ciitoowuu' | Inside the Lodge |
| I-25, CO/WY border, rock formation, Larimer CO | nih'iitkotousi'I | Where They Took Shelter |
| James Peak and south, Gilpin CO | hooxei hookute' | Wolf's Canine |
| Joe Wright Creek, Larimer CO | hiwoxuukoh'owu' | Elk Creek |
| Julian, Mount, to Stones Peak and intervening area, RMNP | woxse'eihtoo | The Bear Paws |
| Kaly Cook Springs, RMNP | hoh'onookeenooxeb | Rock Spring |
| Kawuneeche Valley, RMNP | koo'ohwuuniicii | Coyote River |
| Kawuneeche Valey, area in, RMNP | bexookeinokoy | Mountain Lions' Den |
| Lake Haiyaha, RMNP | hoh'oooyoo' | Rocks All Around |
| Laramie Plains, Larimer, CO | heneeceibooo | Buffalo Trail |
| Lily Lake, RMNP | hebesokoy | Beaver Lodge |
| Lily Mountain, RMNP | heebesokoyonoteyoo' | Beaver Lodge Mountain |
| Little Beaver Creek | boo'oowu' | Flows Red |
| Little Beaver River | honooxoehibiisii'iini' | Bullberry Bushes |
| Longs Peak, RMNP | neniisoteyou'u | Two Mountains |
| Longs Peak Inn Area, Larimer CO | hisei tih'iinoxowuso'oneit bes | Where Woman Was Killed |
| Lookout, Shadow and Echo Mountain, RMNP | beniisoteyoo' | Piney Mountain |
| Lulu Pass, RMNP | booh'ooni3esoo' | Thunder Pass |
| Manitou Springs, El Paso CO | beteenooxeb | Holy Spring |
| Massive, Mount and Collegiate Range, Lake CO | hiwoxuu hookuhu'ee | Elk's Head |
| McCreery Hill Spring, RMNP | bih'ihiikoh'owu' | Deer Creek |
| McHenry's Peak , RMNP | beniixoteyou'u | Bare Miuntains |
| Michigan Creek , Jackson CO | bei'i'einiiciihehe' | Little Shell Creek |
| Kawuneeche Valley, area in, RMNP | toh'okooxeeeni' | Where We Get Poles |
| Mills Lake, RMNP | teiitooni'ec | Still Lake |
| Milner Pass, RMNP | bih'iibooo | Deer Road |
| Mountain, east side of North Park, Jackson CO | heneeceinokoy | Buffalo Lodge |
| Mummy Range, RMNP | nookbee3eino' | White Owls |
| Needles, Larimer CO | 3ee3i'oteyoo' | Lumpy Mountain |
| Neota Mountain, Larimer CO | hote' hitee | Mountain Sheeps Heart |
| Nisa, Mount, RMNP | niisoo | Twin |
| Niwot City, Boulder CO | nowoo3 | Chiefs Name; Left Hand. Arapaho Chief |
| Niwot Mountain, Boulder CO | nowoo3 | Chiefs Name; Left Hand. Arapaho Chief |
| Nokhu Craggs, Jackson CO | nohuux | Saw Tooth Mountain or Eagles Nest |
| North Park, Jackson CO | heneeceibooo | Buffalo Road |
| Kawuneeche Valley, area in, RMNP | hiwoxuuhuu3o'ohcoo | Pounded Elk Meat |
| Notchtop Mountain, RMNP | hoteinetihii | Mountain Sheeps Trail |
| Old Man Mountain, Larimer CO | hinen toh3i'okut | Where a Man is Sitting |
| Olympus, Mount, and two other mountains, Larimer CO | neeneb3i'eiitei'i | Faces to the Wind |
| Onahu Creek, RMNP | hoonouhut | Warms Himself |
| Owl Canyon, Larimer CO | hookoh'o' heetohwoo3ee3ei' | Where there are Many Miller Moths |
| Park on West Creek, RMNP | woo'teenehi3i' niih'eikuhnee3i' | Where Utes were Scattered |
| Pikes Peak, El Paso CO | heeyoteyoo' | Long or Tall Mountain |
| Porphyry Peaks , Grand CO | hite3ounokoy | Crane Lodge |
| Poudre Valley, Larimer CO | ce'eiinox | Game Bag |
| Prospect Mountain, Larimer CO | biixuut | The Shirt |
| Never Summer Mountains, Grand CO | niiciibiicei'i | It is Never Summer |
| Sage Brush Flats, Grand CO | nookhoosei'iini' | There is Lots of Sagebrush |
| Seven Utes Mountain, Jackson CO | niisootoxu3i' heetohwo'teenehi3i' | The Seven Utes |
| Shadow, Lookout and Echo Mountain, RMNP | beniisoteyoo' | Piney Mountain |
| Signal Peak, RMNP | honooxoenoteyoo' | Wolf Mountain |
| Signal Peak/Mountain, RMNP | tooxu'oo' hisei to'uut | Womans Sharp Hammer |
| Owl Creek, Jackson CO | nihoonoobe' | Yellow Paint/Earth |
| Specimen Mountain, RMNP | heetohxouu'oo' | Where it Smokes |
| Steep Mountain , RMNP | heneecee teesnoh'kuhneet | Buffalo Bill Chased up to the top |
is Petter’s Cheyenne dictionary, river names. See also entry for ‘mountain’ and ‘peak’