Our Mission

The mission of the California Department of

Chino Hills Parks and Recreation is to provide for the

health, inspiration and education of the

State Park people of California by helping to preserve

the state’s extraordinary biological diversity,
protecting its most valued natural and
cultural resources, and creating opportunities
for high-quality outdoor recreation.

California State Parks supports equal access.

Visitors can camp

Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who
need assistance should contact the park at
the phone number below. To receive this
publication in an alternate format, write to
for a few days or
the Communications Office at the following enjoy walking, horse-
address.
back riding or bicycling
CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS
P. O. Box 942896 over trails that mean-
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
For information call: (800) 777-0369 der along ridge tops
(916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. and through valleys,
711, TTY relay service

www.parks.ca.gov
woodlands, sage scrub
Discover the many states of California.™
and grasslands.

Chino Hills State Park

1879 Jackson Street
Riverside, Ca 92504
(951) 780-6222
© 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2007) Printed on Recycled Paper
C hino Hills State Park, a premier natural
open-space area in the hills of Santa Ana
Facilities consist of a picnic area, an eques-
trian staging area, pipe corrals, water spig-
In 1977 the California legislature
passed a resolution directing California
Canyon near Riverside, is a critical link in ots and restrooms. Although most of the State Parks to conduct a study on acquir-
the Puente-Chino Hills biological corridor. trails are multiple use, a few trails are des- ing Chino Hills land for park purposes.
Its nearly 14,100 acres encompass stands ignated for hiking only because of safety A local citizen group, Hills for Everyone,
of oaks, sycamores and rolling, grassy hills issues or the potential for damage to the worked closely with California State Parks
that stretch nearly 31 miles, from the Santa environment. and the legislature to create the park
Ana Mountains to the Whittier Hills. Chino with an initial acquisition of 2,237 acres.
Hills State Park is vitally important as a ref- Park History In 1984 the State Park and Recreation
uge to many types of plants and as a link Over the centuries many people have Commission officially
between natural areas essential to the made use of the open spaces and plentiful declared the area a
survival of many animals. water, plant and animal resources of the unit of the State Park
The park is also a place where people Chino Hills. Prior to European contact, the System. Since then
can escape the pressures of urban life and Gabrielino Indians, who lived along the numerous land acqui-
find peace and solitude in a natural setting. Santa Ana River basin, set up temporary sitions from various
Visitors can camp for a few days or enjoy camps for gathering acorns, elderberries, private landowners
walking, horseback riding or bicycling over walnuts and other seeds. have expanded the
trails that meander along ridge tops and After the Spanish founded Mission San park to its present
through valleys, woodlands, sage scrub and Gabriel in 1771, the Chino Hills were used California quail acreage.
grasslands. More than 60 miles of trails and extensively for grazing by mission cattle.
fire roads also offer excellent opportuni- During the Mexican Republic era, the hills Building the Chino Hills
ties for viewing wildlife and native plants. were used as spillover grazing from such Bio-Link
surrounding Mexican ranchos as Santa Ana For people enjoying the park, Chino Hills
del Chino and La Sierra Yorba. After Mexico State Park is an island of tranquillity in
ceded California to the United States in 1848, a sea of urbanization. For the plants and
the land was still used primarily for grazing. animals in the park, it is an important
Private land acquisition began in the link to other natural areas. Southern
1870s and continued into the 1890s. Some California is so heavily urbanized that
late nineteenth and early twentieth century it is impossible to preserve the huge
oil exploration and mining activity also took tracts of land needed to ensure species
place in the northwestern section of what is diversity. However, by providing a major
now the park. In 1948 the 1,720-acre Rolling biological link between islands of open
M Ranch was established, and the land was space, Chino Hills State Park effectively
leased to nearby land­owners for cattle graz- makes habitats larger.
ing. A ranch house, historic barn, and sev- Water Canyon Natural Preserve and
eral windmills and watering troughs serve as Coal Canyon make up a biological corri-
Telegraph Canyon windmill
reminders of the cattle ranching days. dor that allows wide-ranging species like
bobcats, mountain lions and a variety of and the coastal cactus wren, are considered Angeles region since the late 1800s. Fine
rare species to avoid becoming trapped rare, threatened or endangered. The local clay soils are found in these formations,
in isolated patches of habitat. When small diversity of native plants and animals and in a few areas of alluvial deposits that
patches of wilderness are cut off from other found here in the southern California basin wash down from the hills and mountains
open space areas, many of the species is greater than in any other area of compa- during winter rains.
present at the time of isolation will rable size in the United States.
inevitably disappear. Biological corridors Plant Communities
help to maintain healthy populations of Geography Diversity is perhaps the most important
plants and animals by allowing for genetic Ranging from 430 feet to 1,781 feet in feature of the vegetation found within
exchange, species migration, and repop- elevation, the park straddles the north Chino Hills State Park. In fact, the park
ulation after a catastrophe such as a fire. end of the Santa Ana Mountains and the has several different kinds of vegetation
southeast portion in each of its major habitats.
Wildlife of the Puente-Chino In the park’s creek zones, cattail stands
Because of its Hills, which together provide habitat for a variety of wildlife,
great variety form the northern among them red-winged blackbirds. Along
of habitats and end of the Peninsular seasonal and year-round creeks, willow
microclimates, Ranges in southern and sycamore woodlands have understo-
Chino Hills California. This for- ries of wild rose, stinging nettle and mule
State Park is an Deer mation interrupts fat. These riparian areas provide cover
ideal location the generally flat Los and food for numerous animals and nest-
for observing Angeles Basin with ing birds. Many of these nesting birds
Bobcat
many wildlife a variety of rolling are migratory species that come to the
species native hills, mountains and streamside habitats from Central and
to southern California. Red-tailed hawks canyons on its south South America each spring to raise their
and turkey vultures soar above. Coyotes, and east sides. The young. Southern California black walnut
California gnatcatcher
deer, bobcats and other mammals are hills are a result of trees join coast live oaks to
often seen in the woodlands, scrub and uplift and folding form woodlands above
grasslands. Visitors with good ears and along the Whittier and Chino faults. the creeks, often on
sharp eyes will enjoy the many song- The Puente-Chino Hills are made up north facing slopes.
bird species seen and heard foraging and of sedimentary rocks of the These walnut wood-
raising young in the trees and shrubs. Puente Formation deposit- lands are another
More than 200 species of birds and ed from five to fifteen mil- important and rare plant
mammals, numerous reptiles and amphib- lion years ago. Associated community preserved in the
ians, and thousands of types of insects with this formation are park. Only a few thousand
and other invertebrates live in the park. petroleum resources that acres of this California habitat
Some of these animals, including least have been explored and still exist, with about one thou-
bell’s vireo, the California gnatcatcher exploited in the Los sand acres in preserves. Several
 An active grassland restoration program in Please Remember
the park is restoring native grassland to its Hours–8:00 a.m. to sunset.
more natural and dominant state. Fees–Day-use and camping fees are
collected.
Park Opportunities
Speed limit–15 mph for all vehicles and
Campfires, school programs, nature hikes,
bicycles.
Junior Rangers and educational talks are
Vehicles off-road–Motor vehicles may not
offered throughout the year.
be driven off-road or in the back country.
The Chino Hills State Park Interpretive
Smoking–Because of the high fire
Association is a great asset, supporting
Telegraph Canyon danger, smoking is prohibited.
volunteers who assist in nature walks,
Campfires–Permitted only in designated
operation of the native plant nursery,
hundred acres are protected at Chino Hills fire rings; not permitted during fire season.
and various natural resource projects.
State Park. Trash–Pack it in, pack it out!
Bicycle, mounted assistance and natural
The Tecate cypress is another special Weapons–Weapons of any kind are
history units help provide public safety
type of plant community found only in a prohibited.
and information as well as resource protec-
few places in the United States. Several Trails–For safety’s sake, stay on desig-
tion. Seasonal employment opportunities
Tecate cypresses are found in Coal Canyon, nated trails and don’t hike alone. Be
also exist. For more information, please
adjacent to the larger ecological reserve aware of wildlife, especially rattlesnakes.
contact the park office.
managed by the California Department of Collecting–Animals, plants, rocks, dirt
Fish and Game. Nearby State Parks and artifacts are protected by law and
Several different scrub and chaparral • California Citrus State Historic Park,
may not be disturbed or collected.
communities found along the hills, slopes 9400 Dufferin Avenue in Riverside Dogs–Dogs are welcome on Bane Canyon
and canyons include coastal sage scrub, (909) 780-6222 Road, McLean Overlook, the Rolling M
mixed chaparral, alluvial sage scrub and Ranch and in the campgrounds. They
• Lake Perris State Recreation Area,
mule fat scrub. Many California wildlife must be on leash at all times and are not
11 miles south of Riverside
species depend on these scrub and chap- allowed in the backcountry or on trails.
(909) 940-5603/5608
arral communities for survival. Because Pets must not be left alone at any time.
these communities are disappearing as Park closure –The park will close for a
urban development continues, they form minimum of 48 hours following rain of
an increasingly important part of the bio- more than one quarter inch. High clay
logical resources protected in the park. content in the soil causes “greased”
Most of the grassland in the park is non- trails and roads. Use during this time
native annual European grasses that were makes hiking, bicycling and equestrian
introduced here during the early ranching activities hazardous and causes severe
years. However, grassland species native to rutting of trail and road surfaces. The
California, such as purple needle grass and park is also closed during times of
giant rye, can be found among the annuals. extreme fire danger.
Chino Hills