When people think of Colorado, they think of Denver's craft beer scene, Aspen's ski slopes, and Boulder's crunchy-tech energy. Few think of Littleton — and that's exactly what makes this city of 47,000 people just 10 miles south of Denver's downtown one of Colorado's best-kept secrets.
Where Exactly Is Littleton?
Littleton sits in Arapahoe and Jefferson counties, directly south of Denver and west of Englewood. The city is flanked to the west by the dramatic rise of the Front Range foothills — on a clear day (and in Colorado, most days are clear), the view of the Rocky Mountains from Littleton's western neighborhoods is jaw-dropping. The city is served by the RTD Light Rail W and C lines, making it genuinely accessible to downtown Denver without a car.
Old Town Littleton: The Walkable Heart
Littleton's crown jewel is its Historic Old Town district centered on Main Street. Unlike many American suburbs that surrendered their downtowns to strip malls decades ago, Littleton's Main Street survived and thrived. Today it offers:
- Independent restaurants and bars — From upscale dining at Enoteca (known for its Italian-focused wine list and hand-made pasta) to the beloved burgers at Sputnik Bar, the strip punches well above its weight for a suburb.
- The historic Arapahoe County Courthouse — Built in the 1890s and now a focal point of the historic district's architecture.
- Littleton Museum — A free outdoor living history museum with two working 19th-century farms staffed by costumed interpreters. Genuinely excellent, especially for families — and completely unexpected in a suburban setting.
- Local boutiques and antique shops — Old Town's retail is almost entirely independent, making it a pleasantly different experience from the mall culture elsewhere in the metro.
- The Hudson Gardens — A 30-acre botanical garden and event center along the South Platte River, hosting summer concerts that draw major acts in an intimate outdoor setting.
The South Platte River Trail
Running directly through the heart of Littleton, the South Platte River Trail is one of the Front Range's best urban greenways. The paved multi-use trail stretches over 60 miles from Waterton Canyon south of Littleton all the way north through Denver to the city of Brighton. Littleton's stretch is particularly beautiful — wide riverside paths, cottonwood groves, wildlife (herons, eagles, deer, fox), and mountain views. This is where Littleton residents run, bike, and decompress.
Chatfield State Park: A Reservoir in the Foothills
Chatfield State Park, located just five minutes south of Littleton's core, is an 5,600-acre state park centered on a reservoir at the base of the Rockies. It offers swimming beaches, sailing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, camping, and direct trail access to the foothills. On summer weekends it becomes Littleton's living room — packed with families, paddleboarders, and picnickers. The backdrop of the mountains rising directly behind the reservoir is genuinely stunning.
What Most People Don't Know About Littleton
A few facts that surprise most first-time visitors:
- Littleton is one of the few US cities that owns its own electric utility (Littleton Light and Power) — which keeps electricity rates lower than most of the Denver metro and gives residents a local say in energy policy. A true civic oddity and point of local pride.
- The city has a surprisingly serious arts scene. The Littleton Fine Arts Guild, the Town Hall Arts Center (a performing arts venue in the historic town hall building), and a busy gallery circuit make Littleton an active creative community.
- Littleton was the site of one of the first McDonald's restaurants west of the Mississippi, opening in the 1950s on South Santa Fe Drive as Denver's suburbs exploded.
- The 1965 South Platte River flood devastated much of the area and directly shaped the creation of Chatfield Reservoir as a flood control project — turning a disaster into one of the metro's most treasured recreational resources.
Is Littleton a Good Place to Live?
Consistently, yes. Littleton regularly appears on national "best places to live" lists for its combination of outdoor access, walkable historic district, good schools, manageable size, and proximity to Denver jobs without downtown prices. Median home prices are lower than Denver proper and significantly lower than Boulder. The city has a strong sense of civic identity and a notably active volunteer culture. If you're considering moving to the Denver metro but want a town with character — not just suburbs — Littleton is worth a serious look.