Recreation

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Chino Hills State Park offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy amidst its scenic landscapes and diverse ecosystems. Whether it is hiking Bane Ridge or horseback riding in the backcounty, there is a trail for everyone. 


Mutli-Use Trails

Nearly all trails inside the park are multi-uuse trails. Multi-use trails are trails that are designed and designated for use by a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding. These trails are typically wide enough and have surfaces suitable for accommodating different types of users simultaneously. While nearly all of our trails are multi-use, below is a list of trails accessable to different recreational users: 

• Coal Canyon – hike, bike, horse
• Bane Canyon Road – hike, bike, horse
• Telegraph Canyon Road – hike, bike, horse
• South Ridge Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Lower Aliso Trail - hike, bike, horse
• North Ridge Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Easy Street Trail – hike
• Little Canyon Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Sycamore Trail – hike, bike, horse
• McDermont Trail – hike, bike, horse

• Diemer Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Raptor Ridge Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Bane Ridge Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Upper Aliso Trail - hike, bike, horse
• Sidewinder Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Scully Ridge Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Old Edison Trail – hike, bike, horse
• East Fence Line Trail – hike, bike, horse
• Bobcat Ridge Trail – hike, bike

Yield to Hikers

 

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Trail Closures

The park trails will close following rain of more than one-quarter inch. High clay content in the soil causes “greased” trails and roads. Use during this time makes hiking, bicycling, and equestrian activities hazardous and causes severe rutting of trail and road surfaces. The park is also closed during times of extreme fire danger when the National Weather Service announces a Red Flag Warning.

Park and trail closure notices will be posted on trails, the website and social media pages. Trails remain closed until these notices are removed. For current trail condtions, visit the Park Alerts Page.

Popular Trail Routes

With over 19 designated trails within the park, it can become overwhelming finding a trail that suits your needs and dificulty. Below is a list of the most popular trails in the park. 


Discovery Trail

This short and easy walk can accommodate trail users of all abilities. Located adjacent to the Discovery Center, this fully accessible trail offers visitors a way to easily experience the biological diversity of CHSP. The trail highlights the multiple ecological habitats contained within CHSP, including coastal sage scrub, woodland, grassland, riparian, and chaparral. Examples of each habitat including interpretive signs are viewable from the trail. 

Telegraph Canyon Trail

Telegraph Canyon Trail is the primary east/west trail in the park and runs from the Rolling M Ranch to the Discovery Center. This multi-use trail is popular with mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners, and equestrians. It also provides access for emergency vehicles. There are several trail connections to both North and South Ridge trails, which run parallel to the Telegraph Canyon Trail. It is one of several major trails that converge at the Four Corners Trailhead, which offers a shade ramada, picnic tables, and chemical toilets. Due to its proximity to Telegraph Creek, much of the surrounding habitat is riparian, coastal sage scrub, grassland, woodland, and other plant communities, which can also be experienced from this trail.

North Ridge Trail

Just north of and parallel to the Telegraph Canyon Trail is the North Ridge Trail. Also a multi-use trail, North Ridge Trail is popular among users accessing the park from the Discovery Center. Erosion has created dangerous conditions that have necessitated closure of the section of the trail from Gilman to Telegraph Canyon trails until repairs can be made. North Ridge Trail can also be accessed from Rolling M Ranch via the Four Corners trailhead. North Ridge Trail also provides access to Gilman Peak scenic overlook located at the intersection of North Ridge and Gilman trails.

South Ridge Trail

Just south of and parallel to Telegraph Canyon Trail is the South Ridge Trail. Also a multi-use trail, South Ridge Trail is popular among users accessing the park from Quarter Horse Staging Area, Casino Ridge Staging Area, and other access points in the City of Yorba Linda, such as utility right-of-ways and private property. South Ridge is also accessible from Rolling M Ranch and the Four Corners Trailhead. A popular destination along South Ridge Trail is Glider Point. A second, less popular scenic look-out accessible from the South Ridge Trail is San Juan Hill, which, at an elevation of 1,781 feet, is the highest point in the park.

Aliso Canyon Trail

The Aliso Canyon Trail spans north/south from the Santa Ana River Trail near the City of Corona to Upper Aliso Canyon adjacent to the City of Chino Hills. This multi-use trail traverses from the northeasterly section of the park through the Rolling M Ranch area to the southeasterly section of the park and is popular among hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers. The Aliso Canyon Trail can be accessed via trailheads near Rolling M Ranch and from the Santa Ana River Trail.

Scully Ridge Trail

The Scully Ridge Trail is a multi-use trail that borders the eastern edge of Water Canyon Natural Preserve, and continues south to the Santa Ana River Trail. Access to Scully Ridge Trail is from the Santa Ana River Trail or from Aliso Canyon Trail via Bobcat Ridge Trail. Both Aliso Canyon and Scully Ridge trails traverse through Lower Aliso Canyon, which serves as part of the wildlife corridor linking the Puente Chino Hills to Cleveland National Forest.

Bobcat Ridge Trail

Bobcat Ridge Trail is a multi-use trail that traverses through Water Canyon Natural Preserve from the Aliso Canyon Trail to Hidden Hills Road in Yorba Linda. The Bobcat Loop is an unsustainable trail that intersects the Bobcat Ridge Trail on the east and west ends of Water Canyon Natural Preserve.

Coal Canyon Trail

Located at the north end of the Santa Ana Mountains in Coal Canyon, the multi-use Coal Canyon Trail runs south from the Santa Ana River Trail, under State Route 91, and toward Cleveland National Forest and California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Tecate Cypress Preserve. Coal Canyon is among the most environmentally sensitive areas of the park, providing a vital link in the Puente - FINAL Chino Hills State Park Road and Trail Management Plan - 18 Chino Hills Wildlife Corridor and habitat for numerous sensitive, threatened, or endangered species.

 

Popular Trail Heads

Most popular trail heads:

• North Ridge and Telegraph Canyon, east of the Discovery Center parking lot

• Four Corners

• South Ridge and Easy Street Trail

• Rolling M Ranch – access to Telegraph Canyon Trail and Upper Aliso Trail

• Lower Aliso and Santa Ana River Trail

• Lower Aliso and Bane Canyon Road