C.O.R.E.
Arapahoe County, Colorado
View this on the Colorado Trailheads Map

Nearby Towns: Deer Trail
Season: Year Round

C.O.R.E. stands for Colorado Off Road Extreme and it offers everything from mild dirt roads to wild rock obstacles. It is a privately owned park of 800 acres located about 50 miles east of Denver on I-70.

It's not what most people would think of as "Colorado wheeling" because it's nowhere near the mountains, but it offers things the mountains can't offer. You can basically drive wherever you'd like, though they would encourage you to use the dirt tracks and roads as much as possible. There are many dirt hills, many piles of rocks and cement tubes, a 1.5 mile track with fun jumps, and mud pits of many different lengths and depths. There is also an ATV track.

Check in at the office when you get there so you can sign the waiver and pay your daily fee. Hopefully you will meet Carl Miron there, the owner. He can tell you more about where the park features are.

There are a few dirt hills next to the office where you can start playing, and a bit down the road there are a few more dirt hills. There are also sections of broken concrete pieces that can be very difficult to get through.

If you stay on the main road you will come to a sign. The rock crawling area is large, and if you go check it out you can get to it safely in any vehicle -- though it takes a highly modified vehicle to get through it in most places. There is also an area of smaller rocks that is fun for lightly modified vehicles.

The off road track is fun for all vehicles, though the faster you go the rougher it gets. It is filled with small hills that become jumps with just a little bit of speed. It's fun to race your friends!

The mud pits are kept muddy with a system of pipes that feeds them with water. That means you can always find mud here unless it's below freezing. It is definitely the most mud you can find in Colorado if you want to drive through mud.

Though we always recommend against wheeling alone, C.O.R.E. is one of the only places where that would be acceptable. The owner will check on the offroaders as much as possible, and it would be the best possible place to find issues with your vehicle.

You should call the park before you go, to make sure they're open (sometimes they are not open in rough winter weather). See http://www.coloradooffroadextreme.com for the specific rules in the park as well as contact information, fees, and maps.

Member Reports

• December 17, 2005: ran by Bob R., Eric B., Gary, Matt F. and Ryan H.

GPS Coordinates
(NAD83 Continental U.S. datum)

Driving Directions

From Denver, take I-70 east to the Lowland exit 336. Turn right to take the frontage road back the way you came for three miles. Turn right at the only place possible, a small road going under the highway at County Road 190. As soon as you get to the other side of the highway you will see the park entrance on the right. Stop at the office before continuing into the park.

Meeting Places

Meet at the Tomahawk Truck Stop in Watkins next to I-70 at exit 295. There is also a cafe there that serves breakfast.