Alien Run, Aztec, NM
While the High Desert Trails get all the love in northwest New Mexico, a couple hours north, sitting close to the Colorado border just below Durango, lies a trail system I found to be even more entertaining: Alien Run. This sometimes rocky and nicely varied high desert trail system has both interesting singletrack and an interesting history. Legend has it that this mesa was a UFO crash site, complete with little green men spirited away for dissection by the US Air Force. The trail is marked with little alien heads painted on the rock, and there’s even a plaque commemorating the event.
X-Files conspiracies aside, the singletrack here is the real draw as it offers everything from wicked fast juniper dodging on fast and flowy trails to major rock obstacles on the “Black Hole” trail. If you’re intrepid enough to find this very remote place, you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
7 Comments
Apr 11, 2017
Apr 11, 2017
Let me know when you get back to CO. Ill meet you there....these Fruita trails look like a blast....
DB
Apr 18, 2017
Apr 11, 2017
Apr 11, 2017
And yes, Greens is my fave, but the cat's already out of the bag on that one. Part of the joy of Agate is it's also the one descent you're likely to have to yourself.
Apr 12, 2017
But over 1/2 of everyone I've taken on it won't do it again. I think it's because they think it's gonna be a DH and they get worked on it.
I love that I've cleared everything on it, but never on the same ride--there's always a challenge there.
Apr 15, 2017