U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

Arikaree River The Arikaree River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America. It lies mostly in the American state of Colorado, draining land between the North and South Forks of the Republican River, and it flows into the North Fork in Nebraska a ...

Big Thompson River The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles (123 km) long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Originating in Forest Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river flows into Lake Estes in the town ...

Cache la Poudre River The Cache la Poudre River ( ), also known as the Poudre River, is a river in the state of Colorado in the United States. Name The name of the river () is a corruption of the original Cache à la Poudre, or "cache of powder". It refers to an ...

Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .Cebolla Creek #

Chalk Creek Chalk Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 31, 2011 river flowing east from the Collegiate Peaks mountain range in Chaffee County, Colorado. Mount Antero bo ...

# Cherry Creek 1,050 km² (405 mi²) # Chico Creek 1,934 km² (747 mi²) # Cimarron River 44,890 km² (17,332 mi²) # Cimarron River # Clear Creek 1,497 km² (578 mi²) # Cochetopa Creek #

Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. s ...

(637,137 km² (246,000 mi²) #

Conejos River The Conejos River is a tributary of the Rio Grande, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 31, 2011 in south-central Colorado in the United States. It ...

2,078 km² (802 mi²) # Crow Creek 3,717 km² (1,435 mi²) # Crystal River # Cucharas River # Culebra Creek #

Dolores River The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. The river drains a rugged and arid region of the Colorado Plateau west of the San Juan Mountains. Its name derives from the Sp ...

11,998 km² (4,633 mi²) # Dry Fork Michigan River # Eagle River 2,515 km² (971 mi²) # East Fork Arkansas River # East Fork Cimarron River # East Fork Eagle River # East Fork Little Cimarron River # East Fork Navajo River # East Fork Piedra River #

East Fork Rio Chama East Fork Rio Chama is a tributary of the Rio Chama in southern Colorado. The stream flows south from Dipping Lakes near the continental divide in Conejos County, Colorado to a confluence with the West Fork Rio Chama in Archuleta County, Colorado ...

# East Fork San Juan River # East Fork South Fork Crystal River # East Fork Williams Fork # East Mancos River #

East River The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates the borough of Quee ...

762 km² (294 mi²) # Elk River # Encampment River # Fall River # Fall River # First Fork Piedra River # First Fork South Fork Piney River # Florida River #

Fountain Creek Fountain Creek is a stream that originates in Woodland Park in Teller County and flows through El Paso County to its confluence with the Arkansas River near Pueblo in Pueblo County, Colorado. The creek,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydr ...

2,418 km² (933 mi²) # Fraser River # Frenchman Creek 7,398 km² (2,856 mi²) # Fryingpan River # Geneva Creek # Gore Creek # Grape Creek #

Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...

The

Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. s ...

originally began at the confluence of the

Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...

and the Grand River in what is now Canyonlands National Park in

Utah Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...

. Thus, the namesake river of the State of Colorado did not flow through that state. On July 25, 1921, House Joint Resolution 460 of the 66th United States Congress changed the name of the Grand River to the Colorado River over the objections of the

U.S. Geological Survey The United States Geological Survey (USGS), formerly simply known as the Geological Survey, is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and ...

which noted that the drainage basin of the Green River was more than 70% more extensive than that of the Grand River.The

headwaters The headwaters of a river or stream is the farthest place in that river or stream from its estuary or downstream confluence with another river, as measured along the course of the river. It is also known as a river's source. Definition The ...

of the

Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...

are located in the

Wind River Mountains The Wind River Range (or "Winds" for short) is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in western Wyoming in the United States. The range runs roughly NW–SE for approximately . The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range and incl ...

of the State of Wyoming. (115,903 km² (44,750 mi²) #

Gunnison River The Gunnison River is located in western Colorado, United States and is one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado River. Description The river flows east to west and has a drainage area of according to the USGS. The drainage basin of ...

The Gunnison River Basin is the most extensive river basin exclusively within the State of Colorado. (20,851 km² (8,051 mi²) # Henson Creek # Hermosa Creek # Hidden River # Hill Branch Cucharas River # Horse Creek 3,680 km² (1,421 mi²) # Huerfano River 4,840 km² (1,869 mi²) # Illinois River # Kettle Creek # Kiowa Creek 1,888 km² (729 mi²) # La Plata River # Ladder Creek 3,645 km² (1,407 mi²) # Lake Fork Gunnison River #

Laramie River The Laramie River is a tributary of the North Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 21, 2011 in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. ...

11,961 km² (4,618 mi²) # Left Hand Creek #

Little Beaver Creek Little Beaver Creek is a wild and scenic area in Ohio. The Little Beaver Creek watershed is located primarily in Columbiana County in eastern Ohio, and in portions of Carroll County, Mahoning County, and western Pennsylvania, draining approxi ...

1,602 km² (619 mi²) # Little Cimarron River # Little Dolores River # Little Dry Creek # Little Navajo River # Little Snake River 10,629 km² (4,104 mi²) # Little Thompson River #

Lodgepole Creek Lodgepole Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 25, 2011 in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Nebraska a ...

8,374 km² (3,233 mi²) # Lone Tree Creek #

Los Pinos River Los Pinos River is a tributary of the San Juan River in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico in the United States. The stream flows from a source near Weminuche Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado to a confluence with the San Juan ...

# Mancos River 2,099 km² (810 mi²) # McElmo Creek 1,842 km² (711 mi²) # Michigan River # Middle Fork Cimarron River # Middle Fork Conejos River #

Middle Fork Elk River Middle Fork Elk River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 18, 2011 stream in Colorado. It flows from a confluence of Gilpin Creek and Gold Creek in Routt Nation ...

#

Middle Fork Little Snake River Middle Fork Little Snake River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the Little Snake River in Routt County, Colorado. It flows from a source ...

# Middle Fork Piedra River # Middle Fork Purgatoire River # Middle Fork South Arkansas River #

Middle Fork South Platte River The Middle Fork South Platte River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 25, 2011 located in central Colora ...

# Middle Fork Swan River # Middle Mancos River # Montezuma Creek 3,044 km² (1,175 mi²) # Muddy Creek # Navajo River # North Branch Conejos River # North Fork Animas River # North Fork Apishapa River # North Fork Arikaree River # North Fork Big Thompson River # North Fork Cache la Poudre River # North Fork Canadian River # North Fork Cimarron River 4,462 km² (1,723 mi²) # North Fork Conejos River # North Fork Crystal River #

North Fork Elk River North Fork Elk River, or North Fork Elk Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the Elk River in Routt County, Colorado. It flows from a s ...

# North Fork Fryingpan River #

North Fork Gunnison River The North Fork Gunnison River (locally known as the North Fork) is a tributary of the Gunnison River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 in southwestern ...

2,492 km² (962 mi²) # North Fork Little Snake River # North Fork Little Thompson River # North Fork Los Pinos River # North Fork Michigan River # North Fork North Platte River # North Fork Piney River # North Fork Purgatoire River #

North Fork Republican River The North Fork Republican River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 29, 2011 tributary of the Republican River. It flows eastward from a source in Yuma County, Colo ...

13,172 km² (5,086 mi²) # North Fork Rio de los Piños #

North Fork Smoky Hill River The North Fork Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America. A tributary of the Smoky Hill River, it flows from eastern Colorado into western Kansas. Geography The North Fork Smoky Hill River rises in the High Plains re ...

1,965 km² (759 mi²) # North Fork Snake River # North Fork South Arkansas River # North Fork South Platte River # North Fork Swan River # North Fork Vermejo River # North Fork West Branch Laramie River # North Fork West Mancos River # North Fork White River #

North Platte River The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long, counting its many curves.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 21, 2011 In a ...

80,755 km² (31,180 mi²) # North Saint Charles River # Owl Creek # Parachute Creek # Pawnee Creek 1,875 km² (724 mi²) #

Piceance Creek Piceance Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the White River in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties in Colorado, United States. The nam ...

1,630 km² (629 mi²) # Piedra River 1,770 km² (683 mi²) # Piney River # Plateau Creek # Plum Creek #

Purgatoire River The Purgatoire River ( es, Río Purgatorio) is a river in southeastern Colorado, United States. The river is also known locally as the Purgatory River or the Picketwire River. ''Purgatoire'' means Purgatory in French. French trappers named the ri ...

8,923 km² (3,445 mi²) # Quartz Creek # Ralston Creek # Rio Blanco #

Rio Chama The Rio Chama, a major tributary river of the Rio Grande, is located in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico. The river is about long altogether. From its source to El Vado Dam its length is about , from El Vado Dam to Abiquiu Dam is abou ...

8,204 km² (3,168 mi²) # Rio Chamita # Rio de los Piños # Rio Grande 457,275 km² (176,555 mi²) # Rio Lado # Rio San Antonio # Roan Creek # Roaring Fork Little Snake River #

Roaring Fork River Roaring Fork River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in west central Colorado in the United States. The river drains a populated and economically vital area of the Colorado Western Slope called the Roaring Fork Valley or ...

3,766 km² (1,454 mi²) # Roaring River # Rush Creek 3,570 km² (1,378 mi²) #

Saguache Creek Saguache Creek The place name "Saguache" is pronounced . This name derives from the Ute language noun "''sawup''" meaning "sand dunes". The Spanish language version of this name is usually spelled "Saguache", while the English language version ...

3,482 km² (1,345 mi²) # Saint Charles River # Saint Louis Creek # Saint Vrain Creek 2,572 km² (993 mi²) # San Juan River 64,560 km² (24,927 mi²) # San Luis Creek 7,000 km² (2,703 mi²) # San Miguel River 4,060 km² (1,567 mi²) #

Sand Arroyo Creek Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...

1,938 km² (748 mi²) # Sand Creek (Adams County) # Sand Creek (

Colorado Springs Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...

) # Sand Creek (Larimer County) # Sangre de Cristo Creek (Costilla County) # Sidney Draw 1,949 km² (753 mi²) # Slate River # Smith Fork #

Smoky Hill River The Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, running through Colorado and Kansas.Smoky Hill River. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.br ...

South Platte River The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River. Flowing through the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska, it is itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/ Mountain West. It ...

62,738 km² (24,223 mi²) # Spring Creek # Spruce Creek # Stoner Creek # Swan River #

Tarryall Creek Tarryall Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 25, 2011 in Park County in central Colorado in the Uni ...

# Taylor River 1,258 km² (486 mi²) # Tenmile Creek # Tennessee Creek # Tomichi Creek 2,874 km² (1,109 mi²) #

Trinchera Creek Trinchera Creek is a tributary of the Rio Grande in Costilla County, Colorado in the United States. It flows west from a source in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to a confluence with the Rio Grande. It is spanned by the San Luis Southern Railway ...

# Two Butte Creek 2,107 km² (814 mi²) #

Uncompahgre River The Uncompahgre River is a tributary of the Gunnison River, approximately 75 mi (121 km) long, in southwestern Colorado in the United States. Lake Como at 12,215 ft (3723m) in northern San Juan County, in the Uncompahgre National ...

2,921 km² (1,128 mi²) # Vermillion Creek 2,500 km² (965 mi²) # West Branch Laramie River # West Dolores River # West Fork Animas River #

West Fork Cimarron River West Fork Cimarron River is an U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the Cimarron River (Gunnison River), Cimarron River in Colorado. The river's sour ...

# West Fork Elk River # West Fork Encampment River # West Fork Little Thompson River # West Fork North Fork Purgatoire River #

West Fork Rio Chama West Fork Rio Chama is a tributary of the Rio Chama in southern Colorado. The stream flows southeast from a source near the continental divide to a confluence with the East Fork Rio Chama in Archuleta County that forms the Rio Chama. See also * ...

#

West Fork San Juan River West Fork San Juan River is a tributary of the San Juan River in Minerala and Archuleta counties in Colorado, United States. The stream flows from a source near South River Peak in Mineral County to a confluence with the East Fork San Jua ...

# West Mancos River # White River 12,989 km² (5,015 mi²) # White Woman Creek 3,000 km² (1,158 mi²) # Williams Fork (Colorado River tributary) # Williams Fork (Yampa River tributary) # Willow Creek # Wind River # Wolf Creek #

Yampa River The Yampa River flows through northwestern Colorado in the United States. Rising in the Rocky Mountains, it is a tributary of the Green River and a major part of the Colorado River system. The Yampa is one of the few free-flowing rivers in the ...

21,506 km² (8,304 mi²) # Yellow Creek 760 km² (293 mi²)

Notes

Of the 158 named rivers that flow through the State of Colorado, all but the

Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...

and Cimarron River have their headwaters in that state. As of February 1, 2008, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names had identified 5,564 natural streams in the State of Colorado. Of this number, 147 larger streams (2.6%) were named '' river'' and 11 (0.2%) were named ''rio''. The vast majority of the Colorado streams (5082 or 91.3%) were named '' creek''. Of the remaining Colorado streams, 122 (2.2%) were named '' arroyo'', 60 (1.1%) were named ''

wash WASH (or Watsan, WaSH) is an acronym that stands for "water, sanitation and hygiene". It is used widely by non-governmental organizations and aid agencies in developing countries. The purposes of providing access to WASH services include achievi ...

'', 44 (0.8%) were named ''

fork In cutlery or kitchenware, a fork (from la, furca 'pitchfork') is a utensil, now usually made of metal, whose long handle terminates in a head that branches into several narrow and often slightly curved tine (structural), tines with which one ...

'', 18 (0.3%) were named ''

branch A branch, sometimes called a ramus in botany, is a woody structural member connected to the central trunk of a tree (or sometimes a shrub). Large branches are known as boughs and small branches are known as twigs. The term ''twig'' usually ...

'', 17 (0.3%) were named '' brook'', 17 (0.3%) were named '' run'', 15 (0.3%) were named '' rito'', 10 (0.2%) were named '' slough'', but not a single stream was named '' stream''. Perhaps the strangest stream name in Colorado belongs to the West Fork East Fork Williams Fork located in Garfield County. Many streams in Colorado share a name with another stream in that state. In addition to the

Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...

of the Arkansas River, there is also a

Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .North Platte River The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long, counting its many curves.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 21, 2011 In a ...

. In addition to the Cimarron River that is another major tributary of the Arkansas River, there is also a Cimarron River that is a tributary of the

Gunnison River The Gunnison River is located in western Colorado, United States and is one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado River. Description The river flows east to west and has a drainage area of according to the USGS. The drainage basin of ...

. There is a Fall River that is a tributary of the

Big Thompson River The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles (123 km) long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Originating in Forest Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river flows into Lake Estes in the town ...

as well as a Fall River that is a tributary of Clear Creek. There are 72 streams in the State of Colorado that are named ''Willow Creek'', 71 streams named ''Spring Creek'', 53 streams named ''Cottonwood Creek'', 49 streams named ''Bear Creek'', 49 streams named ''Beaver Creek'', 48 streams named ''Dry Creek'', 33 streams named ''Rock Creek'', 33 streams named ''Sand Creek'', and 32 streams named ''Mill Creek''. The Arkansas River and the

Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. s ...

flow through Colorado, as do a Florida River, an Idaho Creek, an Illinois River, an Indiana Creek, a Maryland Creek, a Michigan River, a Minnesota Creek, six ''Missouri Creek''s, a

Montana Creek Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia ...

, two ''New York Creek''s, two ''Ohio Creek''s, two ''Pennsylvania Creek''s, two ''Tennessee Creek''s, seven ''Texas Creek''s, and a Virginia Creek.

Tributary chart

The following tributary chart shows many important streams that flow through the State of Colorado including all 158 named rivers. The chart is arranged by

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drai ...

and area of the drainage basin. The names of the 17 Colorado rivers with a drainage basin of more than 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 sq mi) are shown in bold. Oceans and streams outside of Colorado are shown in ''italics''. ''Pacific Ocean'' #''

Gulf of California The Gulf of California ( es, Golfo de California), also known as the Sea of Cortés (''Mar de Cortés'') or Sea of Cortez, or less commonly as the Vermilion Sea (''Mar Bermejo''), is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean that separates the Baja C ...

'' ##

Colorado River The Colorado River ( es, Río Colorado) is one of the principal rivers (along with the Rio Grande) in the Southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven U.S. s ...

###

Green River Green River may refer to: Rivers Canada * Green River (British Columbia), a tributary of the Lillooet River *Green River, a tributary of the Saint John River, also known by its French name of Rivière Verte *Green River (Ontario), a tributary of ...

####

Yampa River The Yampa River flows through northwestern Colorado in the United States. Rising in the Rocky Mountains, it is a tributary of the Green River and a major part of the Colorado River system. The Yampa is one of the few free-flowing rivers in the ...

21,506 km² (8,304 mi²) ##### Little Snake River 10,629 km² (4,104 mi²) ###### Roaring Fork Little Snake River ######

Middle Fork Little Snake River Middle Fork Little Snake River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the Little Snake River in Routt County, Colorado. It flows from a source ...

###### North Fork Little Snake River ###### South Fork Little Snake River ##### Bear River ##### Elk River ###### South Fork Elk River ######

Middle Fork Elk River Middle Fork Elk River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 18, 2011 stream in Colorado. It flows from a confluence of Gilpin Creek and Gold Creek in Routt Nation ...

######

North Fork Elk River North Fork Elk River, or North Fork Elk Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the Elk River in Routt County, Colorado. It flows from a s ...

##### Williams Fork ###### East Fork Williams Fork #### White River 12,989 km² (5,015 mi²) #####

Piceance Creek Piceance Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the White River in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties in Colorado, United States. The nam ...

1,630 km² (629 mi²) ##### Yellow Creek 760 km² (293 mi²) ##### North Fork White River ##### South Fork White River #### Vermillion Creek 2,500 km² (965 mi²) ### upper Colorado River ####

Gunnison River The Gunnison River is located in western Colorado, United States and is one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado River. Description The river flows east to west and has a drainage area of according to the USGS. The drainage basin of ...

20,851 km² (8,051 mi²) #####

Uncompahgre River The Uncompahgre River is a tributary of the Gunnison River, approximately 75 mi (121 km) long, in southwestern Colorado in the United States. Lake Como at 12,215 ft (3723m) in northern San Juan County, in the Uncompahgre National ...

2,921 km² (1,128 mi²) ##### Tomichi Creek 2,874 km² (1,109 mi²) ###### Cochetopa Creek ###### Quartz Creek ##### Cebolla Creek #####

North Fork Gunnison River The North Fork Gunnison River (locally known as the North Fork) is a tributary of the Gunnison River, long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 in southwestern ...

2,492 km² (962 mi²) ##### Smith Fork ##### Blue Creek ##### Lake Fork Gunnison River ###### Henson Creek ##### Taylor River 1,258 km² (486 mi²) #####

East River The East River is a saltwater tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates the borough of Quee ...

762 km² (294 mi²) ###### Slate River ##### Cimarron River ###### Little Cimarron River ####### East Fork Little Cimarron River ###### East Fork Cimarron River ###### Middle Fork Cimarron River ######

West Fork Cimarron River West Fork Cimarron River is an U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 18, 2011 tributary of the Cimarron River (Gunnison River), Cimarron River in Colorado. The river's sour ...

####

Dolores River The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. The river drains a rugged and arid region of the Colorado Plateau west of the San Juan Mountains. Its name derives from the Sp ...

11,998 km² (4,633 mi²) ##### San Miguel River 4,060 km² (1,567 mi²) ###### South Fork San Miguel River ##### West Dolores River ##### Rio Lado ####

Roaring Fork River Roaring Fork River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately long, in west central Colorado in the United States. The river drains a populated and economically vital area of the Colorado Western Slope called the Roaring Fork Valley or ...

3,766 km² (1,454 mi²) ##### Crystal River ###### North Fork Crystal River ###### South Fork Crystal River ####### East Fork South Fork Crystal River ##### Fryingpan River ###### North Fork Fryingpan River ###### South Fork Fryingpan River #### Eagle River 2,515 km² (971 mi²) ##### Gore Creek ##### East Fork Eagle River ##### South Fork Eagle River #### Blue River 1,770 km² (683 mi²) ##### Snake River ###### North Fork Snake River ##### Tenmile Creek ##### Swan River ###### Middle Fork Swan River ###### North Fork Swan River ###### South Fork Swan River #### Little Dolores River #### Fraser River ##### Saint Louis Creek #### Williams Fork #### Piney River ##### North Fork Piney River ##### South Fork Piney River ###### First Fork South Fork Piney River #### Parachute Creek #### Roan Creek #### Plateau Creek #### Muddy Creek #### Willow Creek ### San Juan River 64,560 km² (24,927 mi²) #### Animas River 3,562 km² (1,375 mi²) ##### Hermosa Creek ##### Florida River ##### North Fork Animas River ##### South Fork Animas River ##### West Fork Animas River #### Montezuma Creek 3,044 km² (1,175 mi²) #### Mancos River 2,099 km² (810 mi²) ##### East Mancos River ###### Middle Mancos River ##### West Mancos River ###### North Fork West Mancos River ###### South Fork West Mancos River #### McElmo Creek 1,842 km² (711 mi²) #### Piedra River 1,770 km² (683 mi²) ##### First Fork Piedra River ##### East Fork Piedra River ##### Middle Fork Piedra River #### La Plata River #### Navajo River ##### Little Navajo River ##### East Fork Navajo River ####

Los Pinos River Los Pinos River is a tributary of the San Juan River in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico in the United States. The stream flows from a source near Weminuche Pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado to a confluence with the San Juan ...

##### North Fork Los Pinos River #### Rio Blanco #### East Fork San Juan River ####

West Fork San Juan River West Fork San Juan River is a tributary of the San Juan River in Minerala and Archuleta counties in Colorado, United States. The stream flows from a source near South River Peak in Mineral County to a confluence with the East Fork San Jua ...

##### Wolf Creek ''Atlantic Ocean'' #''

Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico ( es, Golfo de México) is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United ...

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Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it fl ...

'' ###'' Missouri River'' ####''

Platte River The Platte River () is a major river in the State of Nebraska. It is about long; measured to its farthest source via its tributary, the North Platte River, it flows for over . The Platte River is a tributary of the Missouri River, which itsel ...

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North Platte River The North Platte River is a major tributary of the Platte River and is approximately long, counting its many curves.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 21, 2011 In a ...

80,755 km² (31,180 mi²) ######

Laramie River The Laramie River is a tributary of the North Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 21, 2011 in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. ...

11,961 km² (4,618 mi²) ####### Sand Creek ####### West Branch Laramie River ######## North Fork West Branch Laramie River ###### Encampment River ####### West Fork Encampment River ######

Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .North Fork Canadian River ####### South Fork Canadian River ###### Michigan River ####### Illinois River ####### North Fork Michigan River ####### South Fork Michigan River ####### Dry Fork Michigan River ###### North Fork North Platte River #####

South Platte River The South Platte River is one of the two principal tributaries of the Platte River. Flowing through the U.S. states of Colorado and Nebraska, it is itself a major river of the American Midwest and the American Southwest/ Mountain West. It ...

62,738 km² (24,223 mi²) ######

Lodgepole Creek Lodgepole Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 25, 2011 in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Nebraska a ...

8,374 km² (3,233 mi²) ######

Cache la Poudre River The Cache la Poudre River ( ), also known as the Poudre River, is a river in the state of Colorado in the United States. Name The name of the river () is a corruption of the original Cache à la Poudre, or "cache of powder". It refers to an ...

4,959 km² (1,915 mi²) ####### North Fork Cache la Poudre River ####### South Fork Cache la Poudre River ####### Spring Creek ###### Crow Creek 3,717 km² (1,435 mi²) ###### Bijou Creek 3,612 km² (1,395 mi²) ###### Beaver Creek 2,939 km² (1,135 mi²) ###### Saint Vrain Creek 2,572 km² (993 mi²) ####### Boulder Creek 1,160 km² (448 mi²) ####### Left Hand Creek ######

Big Thompson River The Big Thompson River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately 78 miles (123 km) long, in the U.S. state of Colorado. Originating in Forest Canyon in Rocky Mountain National Park, the river flows into Lake Estes in the town ...

2,149 km² (830 mi²) ####### Little Thompson River ######## North Fork Little Thompson River ######## West Fork Little Thompson River ####### Fall River ######## Roaring River ####### North Fork Big Thompson River ####### Aspen Brook ######## Wind River ####### Spruce Creek ######## Hidden River ####### Fish Creek ###### Sidney Draw 1,949 km² (753 mi²) ###### Box Elder Creek ###### Kiowa Creek 1,888 km² (729 mi²) ###### Pawnee Creek 1,875 km² (724 mi²) ###### Clear Creek 1,497 km² (578 mi²) ####### Ralston Creek ####### Fall River ###### Cherry Creek 1,050 km² (405 mi²) ###### Plum Creek ###### North Fork South Platte River ####### Geneva Creek ######

Middle Fork South Platte River The Middle Fork South Platte River is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 25, 2011 located in central Colora ...

###### South Fork South Platte River ###### Lone Tree Creek ####### Owl Creek ######

Tarryall Creek Tarryall Creek is a tributary of the South Platte River, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 25, 2011 in Park County in central Colorado in the Uni ...

###### Sand Creek ###### Bear Creek 339 km² (131 mi²) ###### Big Dry Creek (Littleton, Colorado) ###### Big Dry Creek (Westminster, Colorado) ###### Little Dry Creek ####''

Kansas River The Kansas River, also known as the Kaw, is a river in northeastern Kansas in the United States. It is the southwesternmost part of the Missouri River drainage, which is in turn the northwesternmost portion of the extensive Mississippi River dr ...

'' #####'' Republican River'' ######

North Fork Republican River The North Fork Republican River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed March 29, 2011 tributary of the Republican River. It flows eastward from a source in Yuma County, Colo ...

13,172 km² (5,086 mi²) ######

Arikaree River The Arikaree River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America. It lies mostly in the American state of Colorado, draining land between the North and South Forks of the Republican River, and it flows into the North Fork in Nebraska a ...

4,429 km² (1,710 mi²) ####### North Fork Arikaree River ###### Frenchman Creek 7,398 km² (2,856 mi²) ######'' Sappa Creek'' #######'' Beaver Creek'' ######## South Fork Beaver Creek 1,939 km² (749 mi²) ########

Little Beaver Creek Little Beaver Creek is a wild and scenic area in Ohio. The Little Beaver Creek watershed is located primarily in Columbiana County in eastern Ohio, and in portions of Carroll County, Mahoning County, and western Pennsylvania, draining approxi ...

1,602 km² (619 mi²) ###### South Fork Republican River 7,195 km² (2,778 mi²) #####

Smoky Hill River The Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, running through Colorado and Kansas.Smoky Hill River. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.br ...

51,783 km² (19,994 mi²) ###### Ladder Creek 3,645 km² (1,407 mi²) ######

North Fork Smoky Hill River The North Fork Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America. A tributary of the Smoky Hill River, it flows from eastern Colorado into western Kansas. Geography The North Fork Smoky Hill River rises in the High Plains re ...

1,965 km² (759 mi²) ### Arkansas River 478,501 km² (184,750 mi²) #### Tennessee Creek ####

Canadian River The Canadian River is the longest tributary of the Arkansas River in the United States. It is about long, starting in Colorado and traveling through New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, and Oklahoma. The drainage area is about .Vermejo River'' ###### North Fork Vermejo River #### Cimarron River 44,890 km² (17,332 mi²) ##### North Fork Cimarron River 4,462 km² (1,723 mi²) ######

Sand Arroyo Creek Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...

1,938 km² (748 mi²) ####

Purgatoire River The Purgatoire River ( es, Río Purgatorio) is a river in southeastern Colorado, United States. The river is also known locally as the Purgatory River or the Picketwire River. ''Purgatoire'' means Purgatory in French. French trappers named the ri ...

8,923 km² (3,445 mi²) ##### North Fork Purgatoire River ###### West Fork North Fork Purgatoire River ##### Middle Fork Purgatoire River ##### South Fork Purgatoire River #### Huerfano River 4,840 km² (1,869 mi²) ##### Cucharas River ###### Hill Branch Cucharas River ###### South Fork Cucharas River ##### South Fork Huerfano River #### Big Sandy Creek 4,825 km² (1,863 mi²) ##### Rush Creek 3,570 km² (1,378 mi²) #### Horse Creek 3,680 km² (1,421 mi²) #### Apishapa River 2,798 km² (1,080 mi²) ##### North Fork Apishapa River ####

Fountain Creek Fountain Creek is a stream that originates in Woodland Park in Teller County and flows through El Paso County to its confluence with the Arkansas River near Pueblo in Pueblo County, Colorado. The creek,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydr ...

2,418 km² (933 mi²) #### Two Butte Creek 2,107 km² (814 mi²) #### Chico Creek 1,934 km² (747 mi²) #### South Arkansas River ##### Middle Fork South Arkansas River ##### North Fork South Arkansas River #### Grape Creek #### Saint Charles River ##### North Saint Charles River #### East Fork Arkansas River ####

Chalk Creek Chalk Creek is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 31, 2011 river flowing east from the Collegiate Peaks mountain range in Chaffee County, Colorado. Mount Antero bo ...

####'' Bear Creek Basin (

endorheic basin An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...

)'' ##### Bear Creek 4,500 km² (1,737 mi²) ####'' White Woman Basin (

endorheic basin An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...

)'' ##### White Woman Creek 3,000 km² (1,158 mi²) ## Rio Grande 457,275 km² (176,555 mi²) ###

Rio Chama The Rio Chama, a major tributary river of the Rio Grande, is located in the U.S. states of Colorado and New Mexico. The river is about long altogether. From its source to El Vado Dam its length is about , from El Vado Dam to Abiquiu Dam is abou ...

8,204 km² (3,168 mi²) #### Rio Chamita ####

East Fork Rio Chama East Fork Rio Chama is a tributary of the Rio Chama in southern Colorado. The stream flows south from Dipping Lakes near the continental divide in Conejos County, Colorado to a confluence with the West Fork Rio Chama in Archuleta County, Colorado ...

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West Fork Rio Chama West Fork Rio Chama is a tributary of the Rio Chama in southern Colorado. The stream flows southeast from a source near the continental divide to a confluence with the East Fork Rio Chama in Archuleta County that forms the Rio Chama. See also * ...

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Conejos River The Conejos River is a tributary of the Rio Grande, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed March 31, 2011 in south-central Colorado in the United States. It ...

2,078 km² (802 mi²) #### Rio San Antonio ##### Rio de los Piños ###### North Fork Rio de los Piños #### Middle Fork Conejos River #### North Branch Conejos River #### North Fork Conejos River #### South Fork Conejos River #### Adams Fork Conejos River ### South Fork Rio Grande ### Alamosa River 383 km² (148 mi²) ###

Trinchera Creek Trinchera Creek is a tributary of the Rio Grande in Costilla County, Colorado in the United States. It flows west from a source in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to a confluence with the Rio Grande. It is spanned by the San Luis Southern Railway ...

#### Sangre de Cristo Creek ###'' San Luis Closed Basin (

endorheic basin An endorheic basin (; also spelled endoreic basin or endorreic basin) is a drainage basin that normally retains water and allows no outflow to other external bodies of water, such as rivers or oceans, but drainage converges instead into lakes ...

)'' #### San Luis Creek 7,000 km² (2,703 mi²) #####

Saguache Creek Saguache Creek The place name "Saguache" is pronounced . This name derives from the Ute language noun "''sawup''" meaning "sand dunes". The Spanish language version of this name is usually spelled "Saguache", while the English language version ...

3,482 km² (1,345 mi²)

Alphabetical list

Notes

Tributary chart

See also

References

External links