The Alien Run Trails are technically challenging and scenic mountain bike trails routed near an alleged UFO crash site in Aztec, NM. The area boasts rugged singletrack winding through pinon tree and desert scrub badlands with playful slickrock areas. Allegedly, in March of 1948, a UFO was rumored to have been tracked by radar and discovered on a lonely mesa top by U.S. military and scientists. A large metallic object with over a dozen humanoid aliens and strange hieroglyphics inside the craft were found. Trucks disguised as oil field work trucks hauled off the craft and its deceased occupants, leaving the area now known as Alien Run.
We did a big loop out here that incorporated almost everything. It’s amazing riding with quite a bit of technical areas. The climb up Outer Limits Trail is challenging with a jumble of loose rocks so if that’s not your thing, maybe skip that loop or expect to walk a lot. The only downside is there are oil wells everywhere around the trail system and the hum of them is always in the background. It’s hard to feel solitude with that.
We’ll probably be back to check these trails out again and I’m excited for that.
Fall colors are still out there and we snapped a couple pictures along the river. Very calming.
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