About 2.5 miles off the highway on a dirt road with ruts and washboard sections, Alien Run Trailhead Basecamp sits atop a mesa on BLM land outside Aztec, New Mexico. Drivers approaching from Highway 550 via County Road 2651 should expect a slow, careful approach; one reviewer noted that Hart Road has notably rough washboard. The road out heading north runs considerably smoother, which is worth knowing when planning your exit.
The campsite itself is a gravel parking lot with room for roughly 30 vehicles. Amenities are minimal but functional: a pit toilet that campers consistently describe as clean, a covered picnic table, and ADA-accessible facilities. Joel S. notes the mesa position delivers "decent views and full bars of fast cell signal," which sets this spot apart from more remote BLM dispersed sites. Mountain bikers start arriving in the morning, so overnight campers tend to have the lot to themselves until then.
The trailhead gives direct access to around 15 miles of mountain bike trails. A 2WD vehicle can manage the road at low speed, though the surface would likely get slick in wet conditions. Campers looking for campgrounds around Aztec with hookups or a more developed layout might consider Ruins Road RV Park as an alternative, or BLM Dispersed near Hart Canyon Wash for a similarly low-key overnight option in the same general corridor.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsAlien Run Trailhead Basecamp is located in New Mexico near Aztec
Dispersed CampingCoordinates
36.87851283 N
107.8994249 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 3/6/26- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 9/3/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent Coverage
- VerizonLTESome CoverageVerified by 1 userLast on 3/6/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 4 usersLast on 9/3/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
Site Types
- Dispersed
Features
For Campers
- ADA Access
- Picnic Table
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
For Vehicles
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
DISPERSED CAMPING
Enjoy dispersed camping on government land and leave no trace. Pack in and pack out. No (or limited) services at this camping area. Permit may be required.
PERMIT might be REQUIRED
We curate permit requirements across the US for our PRO members. Try PRO to see if Alien Run Trailhead Basecamp needs a permit.
Drive Time
- 23 min from Farmington, NM
- 2 hrs 48 min from Albuquerque, NM
- 3 hrs 6 min from Santa Fe, NM
- 4 hrs 34 min from Grand Junction, CO
