Remember the name Rio Jesus Maria? That is what early Spanish explorers called today’s South Platte River. It is one of two principal tributaries of the Platte River. The South Platte River flows through Colorado and Nebraska. It is a major river of the American Midwest and Southwest. Its basin covers the eastern Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It flows through much of the Colorado Front Range and Eastern Plains. The river also stretches into southeastern Wyoming near Cheyenne.
Denver was founded where the South Platte meets Cherry Creek. Today, Confluence Park marks this spot. The city grew from this meeting of waters.
The South Platte River is born in Park County. This is southwest of Denver. The South Fork and Middle Fork meet there. They join about 15 miles southeast of Fairplay. Both forks start on the eastern side of the Mosquito Range. From South Park, the river runs through 50 miles of Platte Canyon. It passes through Waterton Canyon. The North Fork joins it here. Then, it emerges from the foothills near Littleton.
The South Platte flows north through central Denver. The valley here is industrialized. Railroads and Interstate 25 follow its path. Clear Creek joins the South Platte on Denver’s north side. This creek comes from the mountains. It was important during the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush.
North of Denver, the South Platte flows through farmland. It passes Brighton and Fort Lupton. Saint Vrain Creek and other rivers join it. East of Greeley, it turns eastward. It flows across the Colorado Eastern Plains. The river passes Fort Morgan and Brush. There, it turns northeast. It continues past Sterling. It enters Nebraska between Julesburg, Colorado, and Big Springs, Nebraska. In Nebraska, it flows south of Ogallala. Finally, it joins the North Platte River near North Platte. Together, they form the Platte River.
Native Arapaho people called the South Platte River Niinéniiniicíihéhe. Captain Jose Naranjo named it Rio Jesus Maria in 1702. He searched for French incursions into New Mexico. The South Platte was a vital water source. Travelers escaped the arid Great Plains because of it. Buckets and wells became the Denver Water System.
The South Platte River has many dams in this arid region. Antero Reservoir is the first. “Antero” means “foremost” in Spanish. It was the first dam near the river’s start. Spinney Mountain Reservoir is next. It covers 2,500 acres at capacity. Eleven Mile Reservoir is below Spinney Mountain. It can hold 97000 acre-feet of water. Cheesman Reservoir is further down. It was the world’s tallest gravity dam in 1905.
The South Platte River is a gold medal trout river. It has many wild brown and rainbow trout. Fly fishing is popular here. Waterton Canyon and Cheesman Canyon are favorite spots.
So, next time you are near the South Platte River, remember its history. From native names to Spanish explorers, it is a vital waterway. It has shaped Denver and the surrounding areas.