Ken Caryl, Colorado
Ken Caryl is a community of 33,233 people in Jefferson County, Colorado.
Why visit Ken Caryl
Townapedia lists 8 museums and landmarks, 81 parks and trails, 115 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include AMC Bowles Crossing 12, Dippies, Bradford House II and Peterson House.
Weather in Ken Caryl
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Ken Caryl
Ken Caryl, commonly known as Ken Caryl Ranch, is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place (CDP) located in and governed by Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. The CDP is a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population of the Ken Caryl CDP was 33,811 at the 2020 census. The Ken Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District and the Ken Caryl Ranch Water District provide services.
From the Wikipedia article Ken Caryl, Colorado (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
Wild Alaska Seafood Products
Farm and orchard · 2.6 mi
8501 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton
May-Oct Sa 08:00-14:00
Museums and landmarks8
Bradford House II
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Rock shelter in Jefferson County, Colorado
Peterson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.4 mi
Historic house in Lakewood, Colorado, United States
,_CO_2026-07-12.jpg){kind=link}
Columbine Memorial
Monument and historic site · 2.7 mi
Memorial in Colorado commemorating the Columbine High School Massacre
Hildebrand Ranch
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Economy Mine
Monument and historic site · 1.4 mi
The area was heavily mined in the 1920s, when there wasn’t much in this part of the metro area. Graves said it would have been described...
Parks, trails and playgrounds81
South Valley Park
Park · 2.3 mi
Park in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States of America
69 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes115
Brooklyn M.C.'s Pizzeria
Restaurant · Pizza, Italian, Pasta, Calzone, Beer · 2.7 mi
8086 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton
Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-21:00; Su 12:00-19:00
Gunther Toody's Diner
Restaurant · Burger · 2.4 mi
8266 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton
Su-Th 07:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 07:00-21:00
Hotpot Den
Restaurant · Chinese · 2.2 mi
5934 South Kipling Parkway
Mo-Th,Su 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-22:00
Lake House Kitchen + Tavern
Restaurant · American, Breakfast, Fish, Grill, Sandwich, Steak House · 2.7 mi
8026 West Bowles Avenue
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 09:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-21:00
Los Dos Potrillos
Restaurant · Mexican · 0.9 mi
10065 West San Juan Way, Littleton
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 09:00-21:30
Marino's
Restaurant · Italian, Italian Pizza · 1.7 mi
9083 - Unit 7B West Peakview Drive
Tu-Fr 16:30-20:00; Sa-Su 16:30-20:30
103 more on the map.
History
Ken Caryl's history begins with Denver Major Robert B. Bradford's purchase of the property in 1859. He soon built the Bradford/Perley House, as well as a toll road ($1.50 per wagon) to aid travelers moving west from Denver in 1859. The combination of the Bradford/Perley House Inn and the toll road heading towards the mining camps proved fairly lucrative for Bradford. The construction of a competing road up Turkey Creek Canyon in 1867 (known as Highway 285 in the modern day) that replaced Bradford’s more difficult route ultimately doomed his enterprise. After his death in 1876, his widow eventually relinquished the property in 1881. Owners came and went for a period of almost 20 years.
During the ranch's heyday, a number of well-known Colorado natives frequented Ken Caryl, including the notorious Civil War butcher John Chivington. Another regular was Ute chief Colorow. Although Colorow and other Utes in the area were removed after the Meeker Massacre of 1879, he did leave a legacy. Present day Colorow Elementary school was named for him, and a rock formation in the area that was apparently one of his favorite lairs continues to be known as “Colorow's Cave".
From the History section of Ken Caryl, Colorado on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Denver SW-Littleton
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
12683 West Indore Place, littleton
Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver - Littleton
Motel and hotel · 1.2 mi
7630 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton
TownePlace Suites Denver Southwest/Littleton
Motel and hotel · 1.3 mi
10902 West Toller Drive, Littleton
Churches and places of worship23
Light of the World Catholic Church
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.2 mi
10316 West Bowles Avenue, Littleton
Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church
Place of worship · 2.3 mi
6724 South Webster Street, Littleton
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.5 mi
10209 West Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton
Carmelite Fathers at Saint Francis Cabrini Parish
Church · Roman Catholic · 2.3 mi
6673 West Chatfield Avenue, Littleton
Shopping27
Gas and EV charging18
Pump N Save
Gas station · 2.8 mi
5600 South Simms Street & West Brandt Place, Littleton
Schools, colleges and libraries50
Betty K Marler Youth Services Center
School · 5.1 mi
7862 West Mansfield Parkway, Denver
Healthcare12
Action Behavior Centers - ABA Therapy for Autism
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.2 mi
7911 Shaffer Parkway, Littleton
AdventHealth West Littleton Emergency Room
Clinic and pharmacy · 1.4 mi
9670 West Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton
Flora Pharmacy - Ken Caryl
Clinic and pharmacy · 0.9 mi
Suite 3 South Simms Street
Map of Ken Caryl
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jefferson County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-08-01: Quarry Fire (Fire)
- 2023-08-25: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Flood)
- 2020-03-28: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-09-14: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2013-09-12: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Centennial Airport (APA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Columbine 3 mi east, about 4 min by car
- Dakota Ridge 3 mi north, about 5 min by car
- Littleton 5 mi east, about 8 min by car
- Highlands Ranch 8 mi east, about 13 min by car
- Lakewood 8 mi north, about 14 min by car
- Englewood 8 mi northeast, about 13 min by car
- Greenwood Village 11 mi east, about 18 min by car
- Centennial 13 mi east, about 21 min by car
- Golden 13 mi northwest, about 20 min by car
- Wheat Ridge 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Ken Caryl, Colorado, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- Homegrown Tap & Dough, Littleton(Ken Caryl), CO 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- PetersonHouse-LakewoodColo, Plazak, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bradford House II, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- Columbinememorial, Denverjeffrey, CC BY 3.0
- Q's Pub where Phat Daddy plays - panoramio, Mountain Mike Johans…, CC BY 3.0
- Calvary South Denver, 2016-04-08, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - rock with lichen on it, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - Columbine trail, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- ISS040-E-592 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS038-E-4196 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- ISS053-E-19569 - View of Earth, Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit , Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - Cathy Johnson trail marker, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - Columbine trail marker, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hildebrand Ranch, Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - trail, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - steps on trail, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cathey Johnson - panoramio - Jacob Montgomery, Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cathey Johnson - panoramio, Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Cathey Johnson - panoramio - Jacob Montgomery (1), Jacob Montgomery, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - tall red rocks, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - red rock formation 01, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Asclepias engelmanniana - scevola augustin 02, scevola_augustin, CC0
- Asclepias engelmanniana - scevola augustin 01, scevola_augustin, CC0
- Asclepias engelmanniana - scevola augustin 04, scevola_augustin, CC0
- Asclepias engelmanniana - scevola augustin 03, scevola_augustin, CC0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - red rocks, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- CoyoteSongTrail, Dirk Huizenga, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Valley Park, Jefferson County, Colorado - red rock formations, Lovemedead, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Tradescantia occidentalis, Drew Avery, CC BY 2.0
- 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury, front right side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-08-02, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Sport Coupe, rear right side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1966 Ford Fairlane GTA, yellow, rear right side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-08-02, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad, right side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Chevrolet Corvette C7 convertible & Chevrolet Corvette C5, rear view, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Sunliner Convertible, green, rear right side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1963 Plymouth Sport Fury, rear left side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-08-02, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1977 Chevrolet Corvette, front left side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1977 Chevrolet Corvette, rear right side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad, rear left side, DQ Littleton Car Show 2026-07-12, Xnatedawgx, CC BY-SA 4.0
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