As its name implies, the principal species in the forest is coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), but the site also contains Douglas fir, Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and Port Orford cedar.

[1] The Redwood Experimental Forest was designated part of the California Coast Ranges International Biosphere Reserve in 1983.

This formation is generally soft and easily weathered, so that soil development is good, with unweathered regolith at depths of about 3 metres (9.8 ft) in most areas.

Rock outcrops are few, and where they do occur, shallow soils and exposure combine to make such sites ecologically unique.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Forest Service.