Manzano Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Cibola National Forest, New Mexico.

Manzano Wilderness is a 36,875-acre (14,923 ha) designated Wilderness Area in Cibola National Forest, about 50 miles (80 km) south-southeast of Albuquerque. It runs about 17 miles (28 km) long and 3–5 miles (5–8 km) wide along the Manzano Mountains, with elevations from 6,100 feet (1,900 m) to 10,098 feet (3,078 m) at Manzano Peak. Deep canyons radiate off the crest, which appears low from a distance but is rugged up close.

The Manzano Mountain Wilderness was designated in 1978 under the National Wilderness Preservation System. Its name comes from the Spanish word for apple: early Spanish settlers found old apple trees a few miles east of today's wilderness, which legend credits to 17th-century Spanish missionaries who planted them for the Pueblo Indians.

The name "Manzano" is Spanish for apple. According to legend, 17th-century Spanish missionaries to the Pueblo Indians planted the apple trees that early Spanish settlers later found growing a few miles east of today's wilderness boundary. The trees stand outside the protected area itself, so the name recalls a story rather than an orchard inside it.

The wilderness holds 64 miles (104 km) of trails, including the 22-mile (35 km) Crest Trail running its length; shorter paths climb the canyons from both the east and west sides. A seven-mile round-trip hike reaches Manzano Peak. Water is scarce in dry periods, and motorized or mechanized vehicles, bicycles included, are not allowed.

Thousands of raptors pass through these mountains each spring and fall on migration between North and South America. Visitors who time their visits during these seasons can watch eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey soaring above the peaks.