Figure 1: White Mountain National Forest
The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is a federally-managed forest contained within the White Mountains in the northeastern United States. It was established in 1918 as a result of the Weeks Act of 1911. This law provided 9 million dollars for the state to purchase land in the eastern United States. Land acquired via this law was to be exploited for timber and water power production. The lands were also to be preserved and therefore named National Forests. An important advantage of the forests was enhanced control and cooperation in fire control. The federal acquisition of land had already begun in 1914. The White Mountain National Forest has a total area of 3,175 km2, which is comparable to the size of Luxembourg. Most of the WMNF lies in New Hampshire; a small part (about 5% of the forest) lies in the neighboring state of Maine.
Figure 2: Map of White Mountain National Forest
While often casually referred to as a park, this is a National Forest, used not only for hiking, camping, and skiing, but for logging and other limited commercial purposes. The WMNF is the only National Forest located in either New Hampshire or Maine. Most of the major peaks over 4,000 feet high for peak-bagging in New Hampshire are located in the National Forest. Also over 160 km of the Appalachian Trail traverses the White Mountain National Forest. Six designated Federal Wilderness Areas exist within the Forest. These areas are protected from logging and commercial industries and are used solely for recreational and scientific purposes.
Because of its beauty, its proximity to major metropolitan areas, its 1,200 miles (1,900 km) of hiking trails, 23 campgrounds, and the presence of a large number of ski areas within or near its boundaries, the WMNF is one of the most visited outdoor recreation sites east of the Mississippi.