×
|
Rate it:
Tags:
Level: Intermediate
Length: 8 mi (12.9 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Loop
Elevation: +1,104/ -908 ft
Total: 71 riders
Mountain Biking Alien Run Trail
#9 of 283 mountain bike trails in New Mexico
This trail has a little bit of everything on beautiful single track. This mountain bike only trail has a great flow and twists through the pinon pine forest on the North side of Hart Canyon. Lots of short little grunt hills and then it swoops you down through some slick rock areas on the canyons edge. A couple short sections with some baby head rocks pop up to keep you honest. A handful of manageable sandy spots develop during the dry part of summer but they are no big deal. Ride the route counter clockwise for a great 8.5 mile blast! This trail is well marked. Bring plenty of water as none is available in the area.
Legend says that in 1948 a alien spacecraft with sixteen humanoid bodies crashed in the hills outside Aztec NM and a marker has been erected at the supposed crash site. This trail is named after this conspiratorial event and takes you right by the marker.
http://www.aztecufo.com/crash.htm
First added by on Jun 2, 2008. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
Starting from the intersection of Main St and US550 in Aztec, NM, travel North on US550 for 4 miles to mile marker 164 and turn right onto CR2770. Drive 2.7 miles on CR2770 (gravel road) and turn left onto a dirt road (look for a natural gas compressor station at this turn). Drive up the hill 0.5 miles and turn right onto a two track road immediately after the cattle guard. Follow this two track for 0.5 miles to a parking area at the trail head. Cross over the fence guard and catch the single track to the right to start the ride. Cars will have no problems using these roads as long as it is dry.
Featured in
This is a mountain biking bucket list trail. Loved it!
| ThankLove Alien Run! It provides a nice variety of winding piñon juniper forest trail with some slickrock here and there. Never taken the Outer Limits out & back, but the lower loops both rank from pleasant to a bit sketchy/thrilling for a newer rider like myself. There are portions I would say are definitely for the advanced rider (mostly a couple of miles into the 2nd loop). Even though the trail is pretty popular, you don't have to worry about running into other people very often, as the loops are both one-ways. I paused at a spot with a really nice view of the mountains in pretty much every direction for a while and discovered a little notebook hiding place. I would recommend this trail, hands down.
| ThankGreat trail. I ride it a lot. Some tec spots, some sand spots, alil rocky here and there. For the most part fun! And flowy!
| ThankFirst of all, the directions on here are WRONG! They literally take you out to the middle of the desert and leave you there. Follow the directions here: https://www.durangoutdoors.com/nearby-trails/alien-run-trail-map.htm
Once I found the trail, I really liked it. I'm not usually a big fan of flow trails, but this is the best one I have ever ridden. I just kept wanting to go faster! A lot of flow trails feel like they have excessive twists and turns for no reason, and seem to go on forever. On this trail, the turns actually feel necessary, and the 9 mile loop was the perfect length. The terrain was a really nice mix of slickrock, hardpack, and sand. There was also some great scenery.
The trail could use a little pruning for sure. There's nothing worse than perfectly apexing a corner, only to get snagged by shrubbery on the inside.
The Black Hole was a pretty nice little (really little) tech loop. There is a TON of potential for more tech out here. I'd love to see a longer tech loop added that incorporates some of the rock features. Next time I'm here, I'd love to session some of this stuff.
| ThankKinda boring. Windy single track. The black hole is about 100 yards of excitement. Adding Outerlimits makes the ride a lot longer and more strenuous, but so much cobble... I don't make a habit of hitting this trail.
| Thanktech spots were nice, i blew thru them w/ my hardtail... fellow rider struggled alil but fun was had. Noob rider, just started to trail ride this year.... fast sections i def pushed alil too hard but i somewhat of a speed demon anyway so fast was gonna happen. id like to eventually nightride this trail. definitely a good trail, was actually the first Official mtn bike trail i rode, cherry popd by the alien. ha...
| ThankOne of my favorits
| ThankSome fast and flowy, some tight and twisty, a little singletrack, a little slickrock, and a whole lotta fun. This trail is out of the way and a little difficult to find, but it's worth it. If you want some extra technical fun, be sure to hit the Black Hole detour as well.
| ThankLocated about 40 minutes south of Durango, The 5 and 10 mile loop of the Alien Run Trail is a great ride for anyone starting mountain biking. Mostly flat with slight elevation changes, this trail takes you through single track and a variety of terrain. The 9 miles of the "outer Limits" can add up to 3 more hours to the ride. It is a lot more technical and up and down. Legend says that in 1948 an alien spacecraft with 16 humanoid bodies crashed in the hills outside Aztec, NM. A marker has been erected at the supposed crash site. The trail is named after this event
| Thank