An ecological classification system has been developed for the Pacific Southwest Region of the Forest Service. As part of this classification effort, coast redwood (Sequoia semper-virens) forests of southern Monterey County in the Los Padres National Forest were classified into six ecological types using vegetation, soils and geomorphology taken from 115, 0.1-acre plots. Four types occur between 100 and 800 ft elevation. The coast redwood/bracken fern-chain fern//streamsides ecological type occupies the narrow flood plains, streambanks and scattered alluvial terraces of large perennial streams. Upslope of this type is the coast redwood/swordfern-western wake robin//Gamboa-Sur ecological type, which covers gentle slopes near ephemeral or perennial streams but is best developed on steep colluvial slopes. Occasional stands of the coast redwood//Gamboa-Sur ecological type are encountered on alluvial- colluvial fans, old stream terraces and lower slope benches. Its upper slope counterpart is the stunted coast redwood/common manroot-common vetch//Gamboa ecological type that occupies steep, ocean-exposed slopes. At elevations above 800 ft there are two types. The rare coast redwood-big leaf maple/California polypody//Gamboa ecological type grows on alluvial terraces of large, open streams. The most xeric and widespread is the coast redwoodtanoak/ round-fruited carex-Douglas's iris//Gamboa ecological type which can be found at elevations up to 2650 ft. These ecological types will serve as a framework for gathering productivity and management information for further refinement.