The area was first surveyed in 1905 when the region was set aside as part of the Monterey Forest Preserve. That survey noted that the redwoods achieved their maximum development along the Little Sur River. The Little Sur River watershed contains stands of some of the most impressive uncut coastal redwood trees in the entire Big Sur area,: including specimens over tall.: It also contains the largest and tallest stands of Douglas fir on the Central Coast,: up to in height.: A stand of the rare Santa Lucia fir, described as the rarest and most unusual fir in North America, are found on Skinner's Ridge, east of the Camp Pico Blanco. There are also a few ponderosa pine in the lower canyon.