Littleton
A historic South Platte River town south of Denver with a classic Main Street and riverside trails.
About Littleton
Littleton is the Arapahoe County seat, about 9 miles south of downtown Denver on the South Platte River. Home to roughly 45,000 people, it pairs a well-preserved historic downtown with leafy neighborhoods and greenway trails.
Downtown Littleton's Main Street is lined with historic brick storefronts, restaurants and shops, and it's especially photogenic during the holiday Candlelight Walk. Hudson Gardens and the Littleton Museum, with its living-history farms, add gardens and pioneer-era buildings to the mix.
Light rail stops at Littleton-Downtown and Littleton-Mineral, so you can reach Main Street from Denver without a car.
A Denver suburb along the South Platte River with several reservoirs and open-space parks that freeze over completely most winters, offering genuinely stark, minimal compositions once the snow clears and the ice is exposed. A calm, cold morning right after a freeze is the window to catch clean ice texture before wind and foot traffic start marking it up.
History
Richard Sullivan Little, a New Hampshire engineer, came west to work on irrigation ditches during the Pike's Peak gold rush era and settled along the South Platte, bringing his wife, Angeline, in 1862. In 1867 he and his neighbors built the Rough and Ready Flour Mill, which gave the young community an economic base. The town that grew up around it took his name and incorporated on March 13, 1890. Light rail service reached Littleton in 2000.
Photographing Littleton
Best light: Main Street shines at blue hour and during the holiday lights season. Along the South Platte, sunrise brings soft light on the cottonwoods, and clear evenings put the Front Range in silhouette to the west.
Shots to look for
- Historic Main Street storefronts at blue hour with string lights, 24-35mm
- South Platte River and cottonwoods at sunrise from the riverside trail
- Hudson Gardens' blooms in summer with a macro or short telephoto
- Front Range silhouettes from open ground west of the river at sunset
Photo tips
- Take light rail to Littleton-Downtown to avoid parking hassles on event nights
- Bring a fast lens for low-light downtown shots
- Herons and waterfowl are common along the river; pack a telephoto
- Check Hudson Gardens' hours and event schedule before you go
Know before you go
- Downtown can be busy during festivals like the Candlelight Walk
- Light rail serves Littleton-Downtown and Littleton-Mineral stations
- Riverside trails are shared with cyclists
Prints from Littleton
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Littleton named after?
Richard Sullivan Little, an engineer who settled along the South Platte and helped build the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867.
How far is Littleton from Denver?
About 9 miles south of downtown Denver, reachable by car or light rail.
Combine it with
South Valley Park, Jefferson County · Roxborough State Park · Red Rocks Park · Denver
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: en.wikipedia.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.