more stats
7.1 miles
Distance
938 ft
Climb
-903 ft
Descent
01:00:28
Avg time
32 ft
Altitude change
6,490 ft
Altitude min
6,805 ft
Altitude max
6,532 ft
Altitude start
6,565 ft
Altitude end
0.1%
Grade
-29.5%
Grade max
24.8%
Grade min
2 miles
Distance climb
2 miles
Distance down
3 miles
Distance flat
01:00:28
Avg time

Outer Limits Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Alien Run
    Aztec, New Mexico
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    95 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 95 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #64701 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #292764 in Trail Running
    • #36090 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    One Direction
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Land Owner
    Bureau of Land Management (Farmington Field Office)

Outer Limits is an extension of the Alien Trail loop, the two of which combined equal a 16-mile ride. Due to the length of the combined loops and the endurance required for this trail (it's an unrelenting intermediate trail without much variation), it is not recommended for beginners.

Immediately after departing Alien, the trail climbs a little over 200 feet of what would otherwise be a mellow to moderate climb; however, the entire climb is a babyhead rock garden, as is the majority of this trail's first four miles. If you begin this loop fatigued, you'll find a challenging grind ahead. After the initial push, you will descend and climb several times through slower, technical rock gardens with the steepest descents in the entire trail system. Your wrists and shoulders won't let you forget about this trail for days (think pounding, rocky descents). This loop is an exercise in endurance; no sections are particularly technical, but as you fatigue, front wheel placement may become sloppy and the unforgiving bowling ball-sized rocks will ruin your day.

The trail is very narrow, curvy, and not nearly as well worn as Alien, so long sleeves (glasses, obviously) and even leg protection is recommended if you hope to keep your skin intact. The stout junipers that line the trail whack your knuckles and tear at your shoulders and arms throughout the majority of the trail. But that's part of the fun so long as you're prepared

Just when you start to doubt your skills and endurance, around mile four of the Outer Limits loop (roughly mile 8 total), the trail smooths out and begins a more flowing downhill trend. Then, at mile 6.5 of Outer Limits, you rejoin Alien to complete the circuit.

If you're looking for a fast, flowing 6+ miles of single track, this trail is not for you. If you want a moderately challenging but very rewarding rock garden that will test your climbing and descents, along with a few battle wounds from trees, you've found your place.

Trail Supporters
  • BLM
    BLM
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 8 rides
  • 20 miles avg distance
All
  • 90 rides
  • Last: Jul 20, 2026
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Outer Limits Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Feb 28, 2026 @ 10:13pm (America/Denver)
Feb 28, 2026
 Perfect and dry
Jan 7, 2026 @ 4:17pm (America/Denver)
Jan 7, 2026
Oct 6, 2025 @ 1:34pm (America/Denver)
Oct 6, 2025
 Alien Run and Outter Limits are super-fun, well built trails...as fun as any ride in Moab. The dirt/sand was near perfect, just starting to be on...
Feb 7, 2025 @ 7:50pm
Feb 7, 2025
Nov 12, 2024 @ 9:04am
Nov 12, 2024
 All the trails I was on were in good shape!
more »
Status:
on Feb 28, 2026
Dry
Avg: 3.58 (13 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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Slope Aspect
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Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to outer-limits-104360 trailhead (36.877320, -107.839250)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        6 more »
        mtb
        57 |
        Feb 21, 2025 @ 5:12pm
        Feb 21, 2025
        mtb
        81 |
        Nov 15, 2023 @ 6:44am
        Nov 15, 2023
        mtb
        159 |
        Jan 15, 2023 @ 10:58am
        Jan 15, 2023
        mtb
        141 |
        Jun 11, 2022 @ 10:04am
        Jun 11, 2022

        Videos

        no videos have been added for Outer Limits yet, add a video.

        Routes with this trail

        9
        Alien Run Super Loop Featured
        16 miles • 1,127 ft • 2 • Loop •
        The Super Loop combines the and trails. It has a fair amount of climbing and descending and provides a...
        15
        2025 Alien Run MTB Race Expert Route
        26 miles • 1,783 ft • 3 •
        Expert route for the 2025 MTB Race.
        59
        Expert / Pro Course
        27 miles • 1,901 ft • 5 •
        This is the 2023 Mountain Bike Race Course for Expert / Pro riders.
        3.4 ★★★★★
        13 Ratings
        5 ★ 15%
        4 ★ 31%
        3 ★ 38%
        2 ★ 8%
        1 ★ 8%

        5 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        Alien Run

        • By schillingsworthTF Pro TRAILFORKS HTA & contributors
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        Frequently Asked Questions About Outer Limits

        ▼ Where is Outer Limits located?
        Outer Limits is located in Alien Run, Aztec, New Mexico, United States. It is part of the Alien Run trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 36.87732, -107.83925.
        ▼ How hard is Outer Limits?
        Outer Limits is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.1%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Outer Limits?
        Outer Limits has 938 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 903 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,490 ft to 6,805 ft.
        ▼ Is Outer Limits a point to point trail?
        Yes, Outer Limits is a point to point trail. The direction is One Direction. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Outer Limits?
        Outer Limits is 7.1 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Outer Limits?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Outer Limits. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Outer Limits?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Outer Limits are:
        • April (10 activities)
        • November (9 activities)
        • March (8 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Outer Limits? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Outer Limits are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Outer Limits?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 1 hour 2 minutes to ride Outer Limits. The trail is 7.1 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Outer Limits?
        Outer Limits is a very popular trail. There have been 536 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,030 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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