Chino Hills State Park has become one of my favorite places in Southern California, especially…read moreduring wildflower season. After only about a ten-minute hike, I was rewarded with incredible views of green rolling hills stretching toward snow-covered mountains in the distance. The contrast was stunning and felt more like something out of a painting than Orange County. What makes this park special is how quickly you can find yourself surrounded by open space and quiet. You don't need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy it. Even short walks can lead to beautiful scenery, wildlife sightings, and some fantastic photography opportunities. This visit will always be particularly meaningful to me because I brought my Golden Retriever, Christy, with me. Looking back, it ended up being her last adventure before mobility issues began limiting her ability to get out and explore. I'm grateful we were able to share a day like this together while she was still able to enjoy the trails, the fresh air, and the sunshine. For me, Chino Hills State Park isn't just a beautiful place to hike. It's a place tied to one of my favorite memories with a very good dog. I'll always be thankful for that.

I remember coming here years ago for a super bloom. This place is HUGE! Cell service is also very…read morespotty. I met up with some friends here for our monthly hiking group excursion. The drive into the park and throughout can be a bit sketchy at parts because there are times when the road is so narrow, only one car can pass at a time. They have small turnouts, but it got interesting at some places. You also have to watch out for hikers that are parking down the road and walking into the park to avoid the entrance fee. The ranger at the entrance was very friendly and helpful. He handled the exchange for the $10 entrance fee. You can pay online with their QR Code, but I didn't have service, and they also charge you an additional $0.55 service fee for that service. There are restrooms right at the entrance. The facilities are well-kept and stocked, which we all appreciated. We parked near the Rolling M Ranch Campground. Looks like a decent camping area. They don't allow campfires though. There were campsites available. We started out hiking Ranger Ridge Trail, then swung down to Raptor Ridge Trail. Whew! My quads and calves were BURNING! Those are some steep climbs there! These particular trails are also very narrow with a ton of overgrowth. I was glad I wore long-sleeves, but should have worn pants because the brush tore my legs up a bit. There's also a ton of foxtails and they kept getting stuck in the top of our shoes. Ouch! When we swung back down to Telegraph Canyon Trail, that was wide enough for us all to walk together and had nice spots of shade. That trail was well maintained. There are a ton of hiking trails here. I'd be willing to keep coming back to explore more!

I really enjoyed this hike. Lots of incline and if you go all the way, it leads you to the English…read moreSprings Park. Then if you turn back, you have the option of going through the paved road back to your parked car at the chino community center or you can go back through the trail route. I came here on a Saturday morning at around 7:15am and it was a beautiful day with great weather. It was my first time here so I was really just taking my time and following the people ahead of me. The incline makes it a good workout, just be careful when you are going downhill on some of it - I almost slipped because my pup was going so fast/pulling me. Overall, nice views, not a lot of shade, and you can see some cows along the way! I went this past June but I heard from others that if you go in the spring around March / April, it is absolutely breathtaking with all the blooming flowers! I would definitely come back again!

I went to Eucalyptus Trail Loop in June, one because it gets extremely packed during spring and two…read moreI just didn't have the time to go when it's beautiful with green hills and flowers, but I'd say it's worth the hike. You get to see some cows during the trail and it's definitely not a beginner hike with some hills, but it's a nice workout regardless. For parking I parked at Chino Chills Community Park which is essentially where the trail starts! (Parking is free)

My family and I happen to be in the area and decided to take our kiddos to the park since it was to…read moreour right. This park was such a gem. There's a little lake that has geeses, swans, fishes, & turtles. A lot of folks are picnicking. Some shaded areas. There was a street vendor roaming around. There's slight incline if you plan to do some walking but there is some paved paths where I did see folks walking around. There are poop along the path and also on the grass. This is wonderful park to have in the neighborhood. Wished I lived a bit closer and wished we came prepared with a picnic blanket. Tips: -Small parking lot. -Restroom available. -Basketball courts. -Small playground with 2 swings.

Nice park in the area for taking a walk, a run, sit on the grass, or watch the ducks and nature do…read moreits thing. There's also an open basketball court, which is pretty cool. Very open to the community and lots of families and all ages are at this park. It's not a very big park in itself, maybe about 2 miles all around, but there are different trails you can walk to from this entrance. It's not a loud park, even with a lot of people there it seems. Very relaxing and enjoyable. There is limited parking in the parking lot, but you can also park on the curb. Just check out the street parking times. There are city parking times where you're not to park there, unless collecting parking tickets is your thing.

Plenty hiking opportunities, refreshing air, and a nice scenic drive in. Be sure to have a full…read moretank, as there is no gas services. There is a cafe/ convenience store across from the campground where you can also purchase your day use park pass for $5. I experienced a foggy day, which gave a cooling effect to my hiking. Restrooms are vault toilets, so unpleasant smells and a mess are a given. The lake has lots of swampy algae, therefore not appropriate for swimming or water sports. However, they do allow fishing with permit. I am a nature enthusiast and it was saddening to see the lack of humans respect for nature, with graffiti and trash in some areas of the park. Crystal lake definitely could use more funding to preserve its natural beauty. The loveliest part is listening to woodpeckers as they work, watching an eagle fly above with a fish in its talons, and treading quietly not to startle the squirrel who is crossing my path. I suggest picking up a map with hiking trails from the rangers post or convenience store, before planning your day!

Very beautiful place. Just an hour's drive from La Crescenta, much closer than Big Bear…read more There's still snow there, the road is clear, and along the way, there's a mountain stream and a reservoir where you can stop. Download a map in advance, as there's no signal there. There's a small lake where you can take a walk, and a forest with a cozy family café where you can grab a snack.

We LOVE coming here! It is beautiful and such a nice spot to walk around and explore. The water…read moretower is always a hit. If you geocache there are some to find here as well! Lots of gorgeous spots to take pictures. As you walk on the trail there are little educational plaques and if you come at the right time you'll see some ducks This would be a great free activity to do! You can easily spend about 45 minutes to an hour here.

Environment was good. Amazing place for photos and walking around places there pretty coolread more

Easy trail abd mostly shaded. Some incline/decline, but easy for strollers too. Dog friendly on…read moreleash and fully paved. Multiple picnic tables along the way and trashcan. One water station midway. No specific parking lot, residential parking was easy.

Easy 2 miles RT. Optional 1 miles Rt. . In and back Kids n…read morestroller friendly Great view on dirt road trail Hard dirt road (small part is steep) or pavement (slightly inclined that u barely noticed it) Parking : Albertsons on Grand Ave / Peyton or Calle San Marcos / Grand Ave or Madrugada Dr / Grand Ave Traffic: not that many people. Shade: dirt trail very light shade / pavement half of trail

Cute and easy hike! There are some uphills but it makes it a good little workout. This hike is…read moreshort but productive, and the views of the city are lovely! I did this hike with my two year old (he was in a stroller). The end and the beginning of the hike were a little challenging with a stroller because the path is cracked and beaten down by weather. But it wasn't something that we couldn't get past. So just a little heads up for parents with a stroller!

Really cool hike!!! Very clean and very easy hike. Took our dog out there and he loved it!!! 2/10…read morewhen it comes to difficulty.

What nice and fun little park to take the kiddos to. It's located in diamond bar not too far from…read moretarget and the freeway. There is a round about parking near the entrance with a moderate amount of parking spaces but if you go past that further in there are more parking available. The play ground is quite large compared to other smaller park playgrounds. The cool think i like was that stairs from the first parking lot with the restrooms connect to the playground. So kids can jump right into the fun. Next to the playground its surrounded with plenty of picnic tables (concrete) and lets parents sit and relax while the kids play. The playground has multiple entries with two slides? Two monkey bars, stepping stone style elevated steps, a fireman pole, etc... definitely a fun park to come to. There is a little creek adjacent to the playground where you get a nice tranquil stream of flowing water drowned by the screams and laughter of children in the background, lol.. its nice really and something that sets it apart. We did not go further past the stream but there appears to be additional tables and a trail. Had a great time meeting our friends there and enjoying some fun times with the kids in the process. My kids loved it.

Sycamore Canyon Park has a playground and tables to sit and lounge around it. Its a very shaded…read morearea which I thoroughly like about this park. Also there is a hiking trail that I now frequently go to now. Especially the last few weeks (despite it being late January/early February) its been very warm in SoCal. This trail is relatively easy as it only takes about 30 minutes to complete the trail. I also love how most of this trail has plenty of shade. One of my favorite parks and hiking trails to go to around the Diamond Bar area.