Natural places List of place names of Spanish origin in the United States

1 natural places

1.1 bays , inlets
1.2 forest
1.3 mountains, hills, rock, caves , volcanos
1.4 regions
1.5 rivers , lakes
1.6 springs , waterfalls
1.7 valleys
1.8 wilderness, deserts , dunes
1.9 wildlife refuges , protected areas

natural places
bays , inlets

bodega bay, california
castro cove, embayment of san pablo in richmond, california
matagorda bay, large estuary bay on texas coast
matanzas bay, in st. johns county, florida
matanzas inlet, channel in florida
monterey bay, california
nueces bay, northwestern extension of corpus christi bay in san patricio , nueces counties of texas
perdido bay, in perdido river, designated outstanding florida waters river, in baldwin county, alabama , escambia county, florida, united states ( lost )
san carlos bay (florida)
san francisco bay, california
san pablo bay, california
san pedro bay (california)
strait of juan de fuca, in northwest
haro strait, between strait of georgia , strait of juan de fuca, in northwest.
rosario strait, in northern washington state
santa rosa sound, florida

forest

de soto national forest, in mississippi
los padres national forest, united states national forest in southern , central california (the parents)
san juan national forest, colorado
san isabel national forest, in central colorado
santa fe national forest (part), new mexico
sierra national forest, in california, united states
plumas national forest, california
rio grande national forest, colorado (big river)
san bernardino national forest, in san bernardino county, california

mountains, hills, rock, caves , volcanos

abajo mountains, called blue mountains, small mountain range west of monticello, utah (below)
blanca peak, mountain in colorado (white peak)
brazos mountains, range in far northern rio arriba county, new mexico (arms)
caballo mountains, new mexico (horse mountains)
caja del rio, dissected plateau, of volcanic origin, covers approximately 84,000 acres of land in northern santa fe county, new mexico (box of river)
canelo hills, range of low mountains or hills in eastern santa cruz county, arizona (brown hills)
capitan mountains, mountain range in lincoln county, new mexico (captain)
ciervo hills, low mountain range in west fresno county, california (deer hills)
dos cabezas mountains, in southeasternmost arizona (two heads)
el capitan, california, rock formation (the captain)
el capitan (texas), peak in culberson county, texas
grand mesa, large mesa in western colorado
guadalupe mountains, mountain range located in west texas , southeastern new mexico (named after guadalupe, cáceres, spain)
huerfano butte, isolated volcanic neck in huerfano county, colorado (named huerfano spanish explorers of southern colorado. of spanish orphan).
jemez mountains, volcanic group of mountains in new mexico
la panza range, mountain range in central coast of california
la plata mountains, small subrange of san juan mountains in southwestern part of colorado (silver)
la sal mountains, in grand , san juan county counties, utah along utah/colorado border (the salt mountains)
little rincon mountains, small range of mountains, lying east of rincon mountains, @ tucson, arizona ( corner )
little san bernardino mountains, in california
luna peak (washington), mountain in (moon)
manzano mountains, small mountain range in central part of new mexico (apple tree)
manzano peak, highest peak in manzano mountains
mesa de maya, volcanic tableland in colorado
mogollon mountains, of san francisco river in grant , catron counties of southwestern new mexico. these mountains named governor of spanish new mexico juan ignacio flores mogollon.
mosquito range, rocky mountains range in central colorado
mosquito pass, high mountain pass in mosquito range
mount vaca, located in northern california (was named juan manuel cabeza vaca (1782-1856), juan felipe pena received in 1843 rancho los putos mexican land grant, included peak bears vaca s name)
nacimiento mountains, new mexico, called san pedro mountains (birth mountains or saint peter mountains)
negro mountain, pennsylvania , maryland, united states (black mountain)
palos verdes hills, california (green stick)
patagonia mountains, 15 mile long mountain range south of santa rita mountains, arizona.
puente hills, chain of hills, 1 of lower transverse ranges, in unincorporated area in eastern los angeles county, california
raton pass - mountain pass on santa fe trail along colorado-new mexico border in united states (mouse pass)
redonda mesa, tall mesa located in southern santa ana mountains near pacific ocean (round table)
rincon mountains, mountain range east of tucson, arizona ( corner , nook )
robledo mountains, mountain range in doña ana county, new mexico northwest of las cruces
sacramento mountains (california) (are named sacramento wash , sacramento valley (arizona))
sacramento mountains (new mexico), mountain range in south-central part of new mexico
san bernardino mountains, high mountain range in southern california
san emigdio mountains, part of transverse ranges in southern california
san gabriel mountains, mountain range located in northern los angeles county , western san bernardino county, california
san gorgonio pass, gap on rim of great basin between san bernardino mountains north , san jacinto mountains south
san gorgonio mountain, known locally mount san gorgonio, or old greyback, highest peak in southern california , transverse ranges (spanish missionaries in area during 17th century named peak after saint gorgonius)
san jacinto mountains, mountain range east of los angeles in southern california
san joaquin hills, in orange county, california
san jose hills, part of transverse ranges located in eastern los angeles county, california, marking border between san gabriel valley , pomona valley in inland empire
san juan mountains, in southwestern colorado
san luis mountains, in pima county, arizona
san mateo peak, @ western end of ridge running west northwest elsinore peak morrell canyon, california
san pedro arroyo formation, geologic formation in new mexico (creek)
san rafael hills, mountain range in los angeles county, california
sandia mountains, mountain range located in bernalillo , sandoval counties, new mexico (watermelon)
sangre de cristo mountains, southernmost subrange of rocky mountains. located in southern colorado , northern new mexico in united states (blood of christ).
sangre de cristo range, called east range, located in san luis valley, mountain range of rocky mountains in southern colorado.
santa ana mountains, short mountain range near santa ana, california (saint)
santa catalina mountains, north, , northeast of tucson, arizona
santa clara volcano, volcanic field , lava flow in southwest utah.
santa cruz mountains, california
santa lucia mountains, mountain range in coastal central california
santa margarita mountains, california
santa rosa range, in northern nevada
santa rita mountains, southeast of tucson, arizona
santa rosa mountains (california)
santa susana mountains, transverse range of mountains in southern california, north of city of los angeles
santa ynez mountains, west coast of north america
santos trail system, network of mountain bike trails outside of ocala, florida (saints)
sierra blanca (colorado), mountain range
sierra blanca (new mexico), mountain range (white mountain saw)
sierra madre mountains (california), mountain range in northern santa barbara county, california
sierra madre range (wyoming), mountain range in south central portion of state
sierra nevada, between central valley of california , basin , range province
sierra valley, in plumas , sierra counties, california
tejon pass, mountain pass, between southwest end of tehachapi mountains , northeastern san emigdio mountains (badger)
temblor range, mountain range within california coast ranges, @ southwestern extremity of san joaquin valley in california (tremor)
vaca mountains, mountain range in napa county, california (was named vaca family, who, along partners pena family, among earliest white settlers in area)
vaqueros sandstone, sedimentary rock formation in western united states
valles caldera national preserve (part), volcanic caldera in jemez mountains of northern new mexico (boiler valley)
ventana cave, national historic landmark in arizona, u.s.
ventana double cone, twin mountaintop in ventana wilderness (window. explorers gave ventana double cone name because near summit ledge forms small slot, or window)
verdugo mountains, small, rugged mountain range of transverse ranges system, located south of western san gabriel mountains in los angeles county, southern california (executioner)
yegua formation, geologic formation in texas (mare or female horse)

regions

this not exhaustive list.

albuquerque basin, 1 of largest , deepest of structural basins in rio grande rift , contains city of albuquerque, new mexico.
brazos valley, region in texas (a subsection of larger central texas region)
cape canaveral, florida (anglicized cabo cañaveral)
cape nuñez, headland of nunez peninsula
gulf of santa catalina, between california , baja california (mexico)
high sierra trail, in california, united states
llano estacado, southwestern united states, between east of new mexico , northern texas ( staked plain )
los angeles basin, coastal sediment-filled plain located @ north end of peninsular ranges province
marquez crater, impact crater in state of texas
mogollon rim topographical , geological feature cutting across arizona. called governor of spanish new mexico juan ignacio flores mogollon.
nueces strip or wild horse desert area of south texas between nueces river , rio grande (nuts)
raton basin, colorado (mouse basin)
rincon bayou, in nueces river delta, , located northwest of corpus christi, texas (corner)
rio grande rift, north-trending continental rift zone between colorado , chihuahua, mexico (big river)
rio grande valley, location in south texas
san andreas fault, continental transform fault extends 810 miles (1,300 km) through california
san francisco bay area, populated region surrounds san francisco , san pablo estuaries in northern california
san joaquin (soil), officially designated state insignia, state soil of california (sain joachim)
san juan basin, in southwestern united states
san lucas ava, american viticultural area located in monterey county, california
sangre de cristo formation, geologic formation in colorado.
santa ana canyon, california
santa clara valley ava, california wine region in santa clara county
santa maria valley ava, california wine region
tijeras canyon, prominent canyon in central part of new mexico

rivers , lakes

arroyo de la laguna, california (creek of little lake)
arroyo seco (los angeles county) (dry stream) seasonal river, canyon, watershed, , cultural area in los angeles county, california.
arroyo seco (salinas river), major tributary of salinas river in central california.
blanca lake, washington state (white)
bonita creek, in san bernardino national forest
bosque river, texas (forest)
brazos river, localized between new mexico , texas (called rio de los brazos de dios spanish explorers (translated river of arms of god )) (arms river)
caballo lake, new mexico (horse)
cadiz dry lake, nearby of cadiz, california
calabazas creek (santa clara county), california (pumpkin)
calabazas creek (sonoma county), california
calaveras creek, in texas (skulls)
calaveras creek (california), northward-flowing stream in alameda , santa clara counties of california
calaveras lake (texas), reservoir on calaveras creek
calaveras river, in california central valley (called spanish explorer gabriel moraga when found many skulls of native americans along banks. skulls)
carquinez strait, narrow tidal strait in northern california (named after karkin, linguistic division of ohlone native americans resided on both sides of strait. spanish karkin)
castro creek, creek in richmond, california
conejos river, tributary of rio grande, in south-central colorado (rabbits)
cristianitos creek, california (little christians)
estrella river, river in eastern san luis obispo county, california (star)
green river (colorado river) (the spanish friars escalante , dominguez had named river río buenaventura (buenaventura river) in expedition in utah in 1775, in nineteenth century, spanish , mexicans named río verde , or green river)
guadalupe river (california)
huerfano river, tributary of arkansas river flows source on blanca peak in sangre de cristo mountains of colorado (orphan).
key vaca, island in middle florida keys (cow)
laguna blanca (california) (white little lake)
laguna creek, elk grove, california (little lake)
laguna creek (san mateo county), tributary of san mateo creek in san mateo county, california
laguna creek (santa cruz county), california
laguna lake (california), lake in northern california
lake barco, lake in putnam county, florida (boat)
la plata river (san juan river), in colorado (silver)
lobos creek, stream in san francisco, california (wolves creek)
lopez river, in monroe county, florida
los alamos canyon creek
los angeles river, in los angeles country, california.
los vaqueros reservoir, man-made lake near brentwood, california
matanzas river, florida
maravillas creek, texas (wonders creek)
mora river, river in northeastern new mexico, tributary of canadian river (blackberry)
mosquito lagoon, florida
mosquito creek (british columbia), creek in cariboo region of british columbia.
mosquito creek (feather river), california tributary of north fork feather river
mosquito creek (iowa), tributary of missouri river
mosquito creek (lake oroville), california tributary of feather river source
mosquito creek (pennsylvania), tributary of west branch susquehanna river
mosquito creek (virginia), tributary of chincoteague bay
mosquito creek lake, reservoir in trumbull county, northeast ohio
nacimiento river, river in southern monterey county , northern san luis obispo county, california (birth)
nueces river, river in texas (nuts. settlers named river after numerous pecan trees along banks)
pajaro river, in california (bird river)
patagonia lake, between southwest of patagonia, arizona, , northeast of nogales, arizona
perdido river, localized between states of alabama , florida (lost river)
piedra river (colorado), tributary of san juan river (colorado river) (stone)
rio brazos (new mexico), tributary of chama river (rio grande), new mexico (river arms)
rio grande, localized between southwest of united states , mexico (big river)
salinas river (california) ( salt mines )
sacramento river, principal river of northern california
sacramento wash, major drainage of mohave county, arizona
san antonio river (california), river in southern monterey county, california
san antonio river, major waterway originates in central texas in cluster of springs in midtown san antonio
san carlos lake, arizona
san fernando creek, texas
san gabriel river (california), through southern los angeles county, california
san joaquin river, largest river of central california
san juan creek, california
san juan river (california)
san juan river (colorado river)
san leandro creek, in northern california (formerly arroyo de san leandro)
san lorenzo creek, california
san mateo creek (southern california)
san mateo creek (san francisco bay area)
san miguel river (colorado)
san pedro river (arizona)
san sebastian river, tidal channel flows matanzas bay, florida
santa ana river, largest river in southern california, flows through santa ana
santa clara river (california), north of los angeles
santa clara river (utah)
santa cruz river (arizona), river in southern arizona, , northern sonora, mexico, ( holy cross river )
spanish lake (ascension parish), louisiana
spanish lake (iberia parish), louisiana
spanish lake, missouri
tabasco creek, alaska
uvas creek, river of california (grapes creek)
verde river, arizona (green river)
verdugo wash, river in glendale area of los angeles county, california (executioner)
yegua creek, river in central texas , part of brazos river drainage basin (mare of female horse)

springs , waterfalls

bonita falls, set of waterfalls in san bernardino national forest, formed bonita creek
desoto falls (alabama), waterfall located on west fork of little river near mentone, alabama (they named after spanish explorer hernando de soto)
desoto falls (georgia), located in lumpkin county, georgia along frogtown creek (are named spanish explorer hernando desoto, passed through georgia around 1540)
san marcos springs, texas
san pedro springs, texas

valleys

anza valley, located in southern riverside county, california
conejo valley, in region spanning both southeastern ventura county , northwestern los angeles county, southern california (rabbit)
sacramento valley, portion of central valley (california)
sacramento valley (arizona), between north-south trending valley west , southwest of kingman in mohave county.
salinas valley, west of san joaquin valley , south of san francisco bay , santa clara valley—silicon valley, california
san fernando valley, in los angeles metropolitan area of southern california
san gabriel valley, southern california, lying east of city of los angeles.
san jacinto valley, in south western riverside county, california
san joaquin valley, area of central valley (california)
san luis valley, extensive high-altitude basin in colorado small portion overlapping new mexico
san pedro valley (arizona), in western cochise county, arizona
san rafael valley, in eastern santa cruz county, arizona
santa clara valley, runs south-southeast southern end of san francisco bay in northern california
santa clara river valley, valley in ventura county, california
santa clarita valley, part of upper watershed of santa clara river in southern california.
verde valley, in central arizona (green valley)

wilderness, deserts , dunes

algodones dunes, large erg (sand dune field) located in southeastern portion of california, near border arizona , mexican state of baja california (cottons).
manzano wilderness, in western torrance county , eastern valencia county, new mexico (the region received name when spanish settlers discovered ancient apple trees growing few miles east of present-day wilderness)
san gorgonio wilderness, in san bernardino mountains
san pedro parks wilderness, located in southern rio arriba county in northern new mexico , part of santa fe national forest
sandia mountain wilderness, part of cibola national forest, located east of albuquerque, new mexico (watermelon)
spanish peaks wilderness, in huerfano county , las animas county, colorado
sonoran desert, desert in northwestern mexico , southwestern united states
south san juan wilderness, wilderness area located east of pagosa springs, colorado
ventana wilderness, federally designated wilderness located in santa lucia mountains along central coast of california (window)

wildlife refuges , protected areas

blanca wetlands, area of critical environmental concern, or blanca wildlife habitat area, area of san luis valley in colorado, united states, serves refuge birds, fish , other wildlife (white)
buenos aires national wildlife refuge
canelo hills cienega reserve, protected area in canelo hills, arizona (brown)
sangre de cristo national heritage area, in colorado (blood of christ)