Manzano Wilderness

Manzano Wilderness is a protected mountain area in Cibola National Forest with terrain ranging from lower valleys to high peaks. The landscape features steep ridges, mixed conifer forests, meadows at higher elevations, and exposed rocky areas where trees thin out.

Spanish missionaries and Pueblo peoples settled in this region and cultivated apple orchards, which eventually gave the mountains their name. Records from the colonial period show human activity and farming established in these highlands centuries ago.

The name comes from the apple trees that missionaries and Pueblo peoples planted here centuries ago, and wild apples still grow scattered across the mountainsides today. These trees shape the landscape and connect visitors to the long history of people who lived in these mountains.

An extensive network of trails connects various access points from the lower valleys to the mountain peaks throughout the wilderness. Visitors should prepare for changing weather at different elevations and bring plenty of water, as conditions vary significantly with season and altitude.

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.