By Adriana Flores Solis, May 6, 2025
The arrival of spring brings flower blooms to Southern California parks like Chino Hills State Park, which provides a scenic getaway with vibrant hillsides and native California plants. It is only a 20-minute drive from Cal Poly Pomona.
The hills are covered in black mustard and wild radish, which gives them a green and gold look from afar. California poppies, red maids, Canterbury bells and Arroyo lupine are some of the plants that can be found throughout the park.
Chino Hills State Park is colorful at this time of year because of recent rainfall and cold temperatures. Throughout the summertime, the park is dry because of heat and a lack of rain.
Joel Mwathi, a civil engineering student and resident of Diamond Bar, said he frequently visits Chino Hills State Park.
“I like the green hills around it, especially when you go up on the peak and you see all the space around,” Mwathi said. “I feel like it’s a cool place to take a break and relax. It’s a pretty calm and peaceful spot.”
Free street parking is available before reaching the main entrance. The street is in a residential area, so parallel parking is required. Visitors can also park inside the grounds for $10. A park ranger is available at the kiosk during regular park hours.
If visitors choose to park on the street, it is about a mile hike up Bane Canyon Road before reaching the kiosk and hiking trails.
Cars, pedestrians, bikers and horseback riders shared the road leading up the hill. It is very narrow and steep, so caution is advised when driving or walking up the road.
The road up is scenic, featuring a variety of California Sycamore and Oak trees, with a view of the city and the grass covered mountains.
The park also has a campsite, where visitors can reserve a spot online or in-person at the visitor center.
With about 19 trails available, there’s a trail for everyone. The most popular are the Discovery Trail, Telegraph Canyon Trail, Bane Ridge Trail and Aliso Canyon Trail.
As the end of the semester approaches, hiking is a way for students to take a break from academics and enjoy the greater outdoors. The benefits of hiking are not only physical, but they can also better one’s emotional wellness, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Britney Monsalvo, an aerospace engineering student, is an avid hiker and camper. Although she has not visited Chino Hills State Park, it’s a top location on her bucket list.
“I enjoy being out in nature and exploring the wilderness because it’s such a relieving disconnect from school,” Monsalvo said. “My favorite local hiking spot would have to be Bridge to Nowhere in Azusa. It’s such a pretty hike, and when you hike after a rainy season, the water is so blue and beautiful.”
Daisy Pedroza-Diaz, a kinesiology student, recently visited Chino Hills State Park after seeing the location trending on social media.
“It can be a really interesting hike, as many of the paths trail off to more paths,” Pedroza said. “I like that there are many hills that allow you to oversee the full scenery, and the different paths make it a different experience each time.”
There are plenty of other locations to visit and see California wildflowers and hiking trails. Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve and Placerita Canyon State Park are two parks located in Southern California that also feature hiking trails and a variety of plants and flowers.
The park’s website brochure provides a list of helpful tips and regulations to keep both the land and visitors safe when visiting. There is also signage posted throughout the park to remind visitors about these safety rules.
The Chino Hills State Park is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. – 7 a.m. now through September.
Feature image courtesy of Adriana Flores Solis