Carrizo Creek (Imperial County, California) facts for kids

Carrizo Creek is a stream that starts in the mountains of San Diego County, California. It flows into Carrizo Wash in Imperial County, California, which then joins San Felipe Creek. Finally, this water ends up in the Salton Sea.

This creek begins in San Diego County, about 1.2 miles north of the California-Mexico border. It starts high up, at an elevation of 3,210 feet (about 978 meters). Carrizo Creek first flows west, then turns north through areas like Jacumba Valley and Carrizo Gorge.

As it continues, it enters Carrizo Valley. Here, another creek called Vallecito Creek joins it. Carrizo Creek then turns east and flows through the Carrizo Badlands. About three miles east of an old place called Carrizo Creek Station, the creek changes its name to Carrizo Wash. This wash eventually meets San Felipe Creek.

History of Carrizo Creek

Carrizo Creek, along with its wash and Vallecito Creek, was very important long ago. It created a natural path through the Peninsular Ranges of Southern California and the Carrizo Badlands. This path led out into the Colorado Desert.

For many years, this pathway and its water helped Native Americans travel across the desert. They used it to reach the Colorado River. Later, starting in 1828, Mexican travelers also used this route. It was part of the Sonora Road to Alta California.

Americans then used this same path for important routes like Cooke's Wagon Road and the Southern Emigrant Trail. Mail companies, such as the San Antonio–San Diego Mail Line and the Overland Mail Company, also traveled along Carrizo Creek. Both of these companies used the Carrizo Creek Station, which was located near the lower end of the creek in the badlands.