| Carnero Creek | |
| Pushpin Map: | USA Colorado |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of the creek's mouth in Colorado |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | United States |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name2: | Colorado |
| Subdivision Type4: | County |
| Subdivision Name4: | Saguache County |
| Discharge1 Location: | San Luis Closed Basin |
| Source1: | Confluence of South Carnero Creek and Middle Carnero Creek |
| Source1 Coordinates: | [1] |
| Mouth Elevation: | 7687abbr=offNaNabbr=off |
| Progression: | San Luis Closed Basin |
| Basin Landmarks: | Hellgate, Carnero Creek Pictographs |
Carnero Creek is a stream in Saguache County, Colorado. Carnero is a name derived from Spanish meaning .[2]
The creek rises at the confluence of South Fork Carnero Creek and Middle Fork Carnero Creek. North Fork Carnero Creek joins Carnero Creek after this confluence.[1]
Maps show the creek ending in a field between the Rio Grande Canal and U.S. Route 285, its flow lost to irrigation ditch diversions, seepage, and evaporation.[3] [1] This mouth of the creek is within the San Luis Closed Basin.
The creek, a perennial stream, is home to a healthy population of native Rio Grande cutthroat trout. The creek also provides important foraging habitat for peregrine falcons.[4]
The Carnero Creek Pictographs take their name from the creek. The pictographs are listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[5] but their exact location along the creek is not publicly known, though one source indicates they are on the L-Cross Ranch, which lies along the creek near La Garita, Colorado.