List of drainage basins in Colorado
# List of drainage basins in Colorado

This is a list of drainage basins in the U.S. State of Colorado.

Colorado encompasses the headwaters of several important rivers. The state is divided into two major hydrographic regions by the Continental Divide of the Americas. East of the Continental Divide, surface waters flow to the Gulf of Mexico, either via the Rio Grande or via one of several rivers (the South Platte River, the North Platte River, the Republican River, the Arkansas River, the Cimarron River, or the Canadian River) which eventually feed the Mississippi River along the way. West of the Continental Divide, surface waters flow via the Green River, the upper Colorado River (formerly the Grand River), or the San Juan River into the Colorado River and on to the Gulf of California.

Colorado also has three significant endorheic basins: the San Luis Closed Basin in the San Luis Valley, and the Bear Creek Basin and the White Woman Basin spanning the Colorado-Kansas border north and south of the Arkansas River.

## List of major drainage basins

Major Drainage Basins of the State of Colorado :

| Basin | Outlet | Total Area | In-State Area | % In-State |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Colorado River | Gulf of California | 001703,132 $km^2$ 271,481 $mi^2$ | 001100,195 $km^2$ 38,686 $mi^2$ | A06414.2% |
| Arkansas River | Mississippi River | 002478,501 $km^2$ 184,750 $mi^2$ | 00270,022 $km^2$ 27,036 $mi^2$ | A06314.6% |
| Rio Grande (Rio Bravo del Norte) | Gulf of Mexico | 003457,275 $km^2$ 176,555 $mi^2$ | 00912,070 $km^2$ 4,660 $mi^2$ | A0722.6% |
| Canadian River | Arkansas River | 004122,701 $km^2$ 47,375 $mi^2$ | 073154 $km^2$ 59 $mi^2$ | A0730.1% |
| Green River | Colorado River | 005115,903 $km^2$ 44,750 $mi^2$ | 00527,340 $km^2$ 10,556 $mi^2$ | A05923.6% |
| North Platte River | Platte River | 00680,755 $km^2$ 31,180 $mi^2$ | 0185,129 $km^2$ 1,980 $mi^2$ | A0686.4% |
| upper Colorado River (Grand River) | Colorado River | 00767,993 $km^2$ 26,252 $mi^2$ | 00357,680 $km^2$ 22,270 $mi^2$ | A03884.8% |
| San Juan River | Colorado River | 00864,560 $km^2$ 24,927 $mi^2$ | 00815,175 $km^2$ 5,859 $mi^2$ | A06023.5% |
| South Platte River | Platte River | 00962,738 $km^2$ 24,223 $mi^2$ | 00448,948 $km^2$ 18,899 $mi^2$ | A04078.0% |
| Smoky Hill River | Kansas River | 01051,783 $km^2$ 19,994 $mi^2$ | 0402,493 $km^2$ 963 $mi^2$ | A0704.8% |
| Cimarron River | Arkansas River | 01144,890 $km^2$ 17,332 $mi^2$ | 0165,481 $km^2$ 2,116 $mi^2$ | A06612.2% |
| Yampa River | Green River | 01221,506 $km^2$ 8,304 $mi^2$ | 00715,289 $km^2$ 5,903 $mi^2$ | A04371.1% |
| Gunnison River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 01320,851 $km^2$ 8,051 $mi^2$ | 00620,851 $km^2$ 8,051 $mi^2$ | A001100% |
| North Fork Republican River | Republican River | 01413,172 $km^2$ 5,086 $mi^2$ | 01011,522 $km^2$ 4,449 $mi^2$ | A03787.5% |
| White River | Green River | 01512,989 $km^2$ 5,015 $mi^2$ | 0129,796 $km^2$ 3,782 $mi^2$ | A04275.4% |
| Dolores River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 01611,998 $km^2$ 4,633 $mi^2$ | 01110,619 $km^2$ 4,100 $mi^2$ | A03688.5% |
| Laramie River | North Platte River | 01711,961 $km^2$ 4,618 $mi^2$ | 061989 $km^2$ 382 $mi^2$ | A0678.3% |
| Little Snake River | Yampa River | 01810,629 $km^2$ 4,104 $mi^2$ | 0224,412 $km^2$ 1,704 $mi^2$ | A05241.5% |
| Purgatoire River | Arkansas River | 0198,923 $km^2$ 3,445 $mi^2$ | 0138,601 $km^2$ 3,321 $mi^2$ | A03196.4% |
| Lodgepole Creek | South Platte River | 0208,374 $km^2$ 3,233 $mi^2$ | 069496 $km^2$ 191 $mi^2$ | A0695.9% |
| Rio Chama | Rio Grande | 0218,204 $km^2$ 3,168 $mi^2$ | 071238 $km^2$ 92 $mi^2$ | A0712.9% |
| San Luis Closed Basin | endorheic basin | 0227,638 $km^2$ 2,949 $mi^2$ | 0147,638 $km^2$ 2,949 $mi^2$ | A002100% |
| Frenchman Creek | Republican River | 0237,398 $km^2$ 2,856 $mi^2$ | 0362,539 $km^2$ 980 $mi^2$ | A05334.3% |
| South Fork Republican River | Republican River | 0247,195 $km^2$ 2,778 $mi^2$ | 0175,454 $km^2$ 2,106 $mi^2$ | A04175.8% |
| San Luis Creek | San Luis Closed Basin | 0257,000 $km^2$ 2,703 $mi^2$ | 0157,000 $km^2$ 2,703 $mi^2$ | A003100% |
| Cache la Poudre River | South Platte River | 0264,959 $km^2$ 1,915 $mi^2$ | 0214,587 $km^2$ 1,771 $mi^2$ | A03492.5% |
| Bear Creek Basin | endorheic basin | 0274,896 $km^2$ 1,890 $mi^2$ | 0372,521 $km^2$ 973 $mi^2$ | A04851.5% |
| Huerfano River | Arkansas River | 0284,840 $km^2$ 1,869 $mi^2$ | 0194,840 $km^2$ 1,869 $mi^2$ | A004100% |
| Big Sandy Creek | Arkansas River | 0294,825 $km^2$ 1,863 $mi^2$ | 0204,825 $km^2$ 1,863 $mi^2$ | A005100% |
| Bear Creek | Bear Creek Basin | 0304,500 $km^2$ 1,737 $mi^2$ | 0392,500 $km^2$ 965 $mi^2$ | A04755.6% |
| North Fork Cimarron River | Cimarron River | 0314,462 $km^2$ 1,723 $mi^2$ | 0432,225 $km^2$ 859 $mi^2$ | A04949.9% |
| Arikaree River | North Fork Republican River | 0324,429 $km^2$ 1,710 $mi^2$ | 0234,265 $km^2$ 1,647 $mi^2$ | A03296.3% |
| San Miguel River | Dolores River | 0334,060 $km^2$ 1,567 $mi^2$ | 0244,060 $km^2$ 1,567 $mi^2$ | A006100% |
| Stinking Water Creek | Frenchman Creek | 0343,862 $km^2$ 1,491 $mi^2$ | 063966 $km^2$ 373 $mi^2$ | A05825.0% |
| Roaring Fork River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 0353,766 $km^2$ 1,454 $mi^2$ | 0253,766 $km^2$ 1,454 $mi^2$ | A007100% |
| Crow Creek | South Platte River | 0363,717 $km^2$ 1,435 $mi^2$ | 0442,201 $km^2$ 850 $mi^2$ | A04659.2% |
| Horse Creek | Arkansas River | 0373,680 $km^2$ 1,421 $mi^2$ | 0263,680 $km^2$ 1,421 $mi^2$ | A008100% |
| Ladder Creek | Smoky Hill River | 0383,645 $km^2$ 1,407 $mi^2$ | 067663 $km^2$ 256 $mi^2$ | A06218.2% |
| Bijou Creek | South Platte River | 0393,612 $km^2$ 1,395 $mi^2$ | 0273,612 $km^2$ 1,395 $mi^2$ | A009100% |
| White Woman Basin | endorheic basin | 0403,577 $km^2$ 1,381 $mi^2$ | 065908 $km^2$ 351 $mi^2$ | A05725.4% |
| Rush Creek | Arkansas River | 0413,570 $km^2$ 1,378 $mi^2$ | 0283,570 $km^2$ 1,378 $mi^2$ | A010100% |
| Animas River | San Juan River | 0423,562 $km^2$ 1,375 $mi^2$ | 0302,971 $km^2$ 1,147 $mi^2$ | A03983.4% |
| Saguache Creek | San Luis Creek | 0433,482 $km^2$ 1,345 $mi^2$ | 0293,482 $km^2$ 1,345 $mi^2$ | A011100% |
| Montezuma Creek | San Juan River | 0443,044 $km^2$ 1,175 $mi^2$ | 062983 $km^2$ 380 $mi^2$ | A05432.3% |
| White Woman Creek | White Woman Basin | 0453,000 $km^2$ 1,158 $mi^2$ | 066800 $km^2$ 309 $mi^2$ | A05626.7% |
| Beaver Creek | South Platte River | 0462,939 $km^2$ 1,135 $mi^2$ | 0312,939 $km^2$ 1,135 $mi^2$ | A012100% |
| Uncompahgre River | Gunnison River | 0472,921 $km^2$ 1,128 $mi^2$ | 0322,921 $km^2$ 1,128 $mi^2$ | A013100% |
| Tomichi Creek | Gunnison River | 0482,874 $km^2$ 1,109 $mi^2$ | 0332,874 $km^2$ 1,109 $mi^2$ | A014100% |
| Apishapa River | Arkansas River | 0492,798 $km^2$ 1,080 $mi^2$ | 0342,798 $km^2$ 1,080 $mi^2$ | A015100% |
| Saint Vrain Creek | South Platte River | 0502,572 $km^2$ 993 $mi^2$ | 0352,572 $km^2$ 993 $mi^2$ | A016100% |
| Eagle River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 0512,515 $km^2$ 971 $mi^2$ | 0382,515 $km^2$ 971 $mi^2$ | A017100% |
| Vermillion Creek | Green River | 0522,500 $km^2$ 965 $mi^2$ | 0591,155 $km^2$ 446 $mi^2$ | A05146.2% |
| North Fork Gunnison River | Gunnison River | 0532,492 $km^2$ 962 $mi^2$ | 0412,492 $km^2$ 962 $mi^2$ | A018100% |
| Fountain Creek | Arkansas River | 0542,418 $km^2$ 933 $mi^2$ | 0422,418 $km^2$ 933 $mi^2$ | A019100% |
| Big Thompson River | South Platte River | 0552,149 $km^2$ 830 $mi^2$ | 0452,149 $km^2$ 830 $mi^2$ | A020100% |
| Two Butte Creek | Arkansas River | 0562,107 $km^2$ 814 $mi^2$ | 0462,107 $km^2$ 814 $mi^2$ | A021100% |
| Mancos River | San Juan River | 0572,099 $km^2$ 810 $mi^2$ | 0471,973 $km^2$ 762 $mi^2$ | A03394.0% |
| Conejos River | Rio Grande | 0582,078 $km^2$ 802 $mi^2$ | 0561,471 $km^2$ 568 $mi^2$ | A04470.8% |
| North Fork Smoky Hill River | Smoky Hill River | 0591,965 $km^2$ 759 $mi^2$ | 064947 $km^2$ 366 $mi^2$ | A05048.2% |
| Sidney Draw | South Platte River | 0601,949 $km^2$ 753 $mi^2$ | 070368 $km^2$ 142 $mi^2$ | A06118.9% |
| South Fork Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek | 0611,939 $km^2$ 749 $mi^2$ | 068522 $km^2$ 201 $mi^2$ | A05526.9% |
| Sand Arroyo Creek | North Fork Cimarron River | 0621,938 $km^2$ 748 $mi^2$ | 0571,314 $km^2$ 507 $mi^2$ | A04567.8% |
| Chico Creek | Arkansas River | 0631,934 $km^2$ 747 $mi^2$ | 0481,934 $km^2$ 747 $mi^2$ | A022100% |
| Kiowa Creek | South Platte River | 0641,888 $km^2$ 729 $mi^2$ | 0491,888 $km^2$ 729 $mi^2$ | A023100% |
| Pawnee Creek | South Platte River | 0651,875 $km^2$ 724 $mi^2$ | 0501,875 $km^2$ 724 $mi^2$ | A024100% |
| McElmo Creek | San Juan River | 0661,842 $km^2$ 711 $mi^2$ | 0531,654 $km^2$ 639 $mi^2$ | A03589.8% |
| Blue River | upper Colorado River (Grand River) | 0671,770 $km^2$ 683 $mi^2$ | 0511,770 $km^2$ 683 $mi^2$ | A025100% |
| Piedra River | San Juan River | 0681,770 $km^2$ 683 $mi^2$ | 0521,770 $km^2$ 683 $mi^2$ | A026100% |
| Piceance Creek | White River | 0691,630 $km^2$ 629 $mi^2$ | 0541,630 $km^2$ 629 $mi^2$ | A027100% |
| Little Beaver Creek | Beaver Creek | 0701,602 $km^2$ 619 $mi^2$ | 072210 $km^2$ 81 $mi^2$ | A06513.1% |
| Clear Creek | South Platte River | 0711,497 $km^2$ 578 $mi^2$ | 0551,497 $km^2$ 578 $mi^2$ | A028100% |
| Taylor River | Gunnison River | 0721,258 $km^2$ 486 $mi^2$ | 0581,258 $km^2$ 486 $mi^2$ | A029100% |
| Boulder Creek | Saint Vrain Creek | 0731,160 $km^2$ 448 $mi^2$ | 0601,160 $km^2$ 448 $mi^2$ | A030100% |
| Cherry Creek | South Platte River | 0731,050 $km^2$ 405 $mi^2$ | 0601,050 $km^2$ 405 $mi^2$ | A030100% |
