The first of five 2013 Quarters in the America the Beautiful series honors White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. It is also the sixteenth coin in the complete collection. There are no National Parks in New Hampshire, so White Mountain National Forest was chosen to represent the state’s expansive wilderness. About 85 percent of New Hampshire is forested, and White Mountain is the state’s only National Forest. Most of the forest is in northern New Hampshire, with a small portion in adjoining Maine. The forest was created as a national site in 1918 to protect the region from extensive logging that was threatening to destroy the landscape. The original forest was only 7,000 acres, but it has grown over the decades to include the surrounding land and is now about 800,000 acres. The most famous sights in White Mountain National Forest include Mount Washington, which is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States, and the region’s stunning fall foliage. The reforested mountains and hillsides also provide 1,200 miles of hiking trails as well as scenic drives along the Kancamagus Scenic Byway and White Mountain Trail. Wildlife such as black bears, moose, deer, and dozens of bird species can be found in the forest. The reverse of the White Mountain National Forest Quarter features Mount Chocorua, which is the easternmost peak of the Sandwich Range. The peak is viewed through a grove of birch (the state tree). The design highlights the best-known features of the National Forest: mountains and hills, trees, lakes, and unspoiled wilderness.