Manzano Mountains

Geology: Blue Hole, Carlsbad Cavern, Chuska Mountains, Manzanos Mountains, Mimbres, Rio Grande Gorge, Rio Grande, Rio Puerco, Sacramentos Mountains, Sangre de Christo Mountains, San Mateo Mountains, Shiprock, Pecos River, Valles Caldera National Preserve, White Sands, Zuni Mountains

Manzano Mountains

The Manzano Mountains are a small mountain range in the central part of the US State of New Mexico. They are oriented north-south and are about 40 miles long. The center of the range lies about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Albuquerque, and the northern foothills (termed the Manzanitas) are just a few miles east of the edge of the city. The name "Manzano" is Spanish for "apple tree"; the mountains were named for apple orchards planted at the nearby town of Manzano.

The high point of the Manzano Mountains is Manzano Peak (10,098 ft, 3,078 m), at the southern end of the range. Other notable peaks include flat-topped Bosque Peak (9,610 ft, 2,929 m), near the center of the range, and the twin pyramids of Mosca Peak (9,509 ft, 2,898 m) and Guadalupe Peak (9,450 ft, 2,880 m). The last two are the most easily recognized peaks in the range as viewed from Albuquerque. Manzano Peak and Guadalupe Peak are the most dramatic in the range in terms of local relief and steepness; however, there are few cliffs in the range, as compared to the more dramatic Sandia Mountains.

The Manzano Mountains are the southern part of a larger geologic unit known as the Sandia-Manzano Mountains, which are a fault-block range forming part of the eastern edge of the Rio Grande Rift. They are separated from the Sandia Mountains to the north by Tijeras Canyon, through which Interstate 40 follows the path of historic U.S. Route 66. US Highway 60 runs around the southern edge of the range.

Much of the Manzano Mountains are contained in the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest. However, extensive parts of the northern part of the range (and of the Manzanitas) lie within Kirtland Air Force Base and Isleta Pueblo, and are closed to public access.

While the Manzanos are almost as close to Albuquerque as are the Sandias, they are much less visited, lacking the paved road and tramway access of their northern neighbors. However, many recreational sites exist, with opportunities for picnicing, camping, and hiking. Plan ahead to hike or camp in the Manzano Mountain Wilderness or in Manzano Mountains State Park, which is open from April through October. The park itself is a steward of numerous species of trees, which provide a safe-haven for many types of birds.