RV campers looking for rolling hills and primitive-style camping will enjoy Chino Hills State Park. The park sits deep in the Southern California foothills surrounded by the communities of Brea, Yorba Linda, Corona, and Chino Hills. Because the park has many entrances, visitors can access the gates easily from many different city areas, making the park more accessible to more people.
Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Chino Hills to immerse themselves in a world of recreation and relaxation. The whole family will find something they love, whether it be hiking, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, completing a Junior Ranger program, or simply unwinding in the RV. The moderate year-round climate makes it possible to enjoy these activities during all four seasons.
Chino Hills State Park locks its gates nightly to protect overnight visitors and guests. Park hours vary depending on the season, but visitors staying in the campground must be aware that when the gates are locked, there is no vehicle access into or out of the campground. Information regarding the gate closure is available at the park and online.
Campers with pets should be aware of the pet restrictions inside the park. The campground allows dogs, but many of the trails and most of the facilities inside of the park are not dog-friendly. The park website outlines the specifics relating to pet policies.
Visitors must pay a day-use fee when entering the park if they are not staying at the campground. Use the self-pay station if there aren’t park rangers present at the entrance.
The campground is located closest to the Chino Hills entrance located at 4721 Sapphire Road (Elinvar Road) in Chino Hills.
Visitors can also enter the park from the Brea Discovery Center entrance at 4500 Carbon Canyon Road (State Route 142) Brea, California 92823 or the Yorba Linda entrance at the Quarter Horse Drive Trailhead located off of Fairmont Blvd. in the city of Yorba Linda.
Chino Hills State Park’s hilly location can lead to park closures and potentially hazardous weather conditions after heavy rainfall or during periods of drought and high wind. The park closes for at least 48 hours following rain of more than one-quarter inch. Additionally, the park closes during times of extreme fire danger. Please be aware of adverse weather conditions and always adhere to the park’s weather alerts and warnings.
If you're looking for a more honest RV camping experience without the ritz, look no further. The Rolling M Ranch Campground in Chino Hills State Park is a small, primitive-style campground. Each of the 20 paved sites contains a picnic table, lantern post, fire ring, and grill. Although there is a fire ring, fires are prohibited inside of the park. Because this campground is fairly basic, you'll want to be sure to pack all the essentials. The campground has flushing toilets and showers, but there are no hookups and no dump station. RVs and trailers longer than 28 feet cannot be accommodated. Pets are allowed in the campground, but most trails and public areas in Chino Hills State Park don’t allow pets. Be aware of gate closing hours—campers are not allowed to leave or enter during these hours. Generators are permitted between 10 AM to 8 PM. The campground is open year-round, and reservations can be made up to six months in advance.
Imagine staying right near the hotspots of Los Angeles and Hollywood, with just short drives to the mountains, state parks, and beaches of Southern California. You can experience this vacation perfection at one of the best RV campgrounds in LA— the Los Angeles/Pomona/Fairplex KOA. This perfectly located campground is nearby Chino Hills State Park and has all the amenities you could wish for. Book a Hollywood sightseeing tour from the campground, enjoy the beautiful grounds with the views of the San Gabriel Mountains, and relax in the pool and spa. Other features include Wi-Fi, a gym, sites with patios, and restroom and laundry facilities. Complimentary breakfast is offered daily in the beautiful wooded setting—you’ll hardly believe you’re in the heart of the LA region.
Chino Hills State Park has a unique feature called a biological corridor. A biological corridor is a means for wildlife and plant life to keep from becoming isolated or cut off from large urban areas and prohibiting a habitat from thriving. This biological corridor helps wide-ranging species like bobcats or mountain lions move more freely. Animal lovers with patient eyes can spend time looking for some of the Southern California wildlife that inhabits the area. The park has more than 200 species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals as well as thousands of insects and invertebrates. As well as wildlife viewing, park visitors can also spend time looking for the diverse plant species of the area, including some protected plant life.
Southern California has some of the best year-round climates in the region. The comfortable weather makes hiking enjoyable and fun. Chino Hills State Park trail system offers over 90 miles of multi-use trails suitable for almost all levels of hikers. Access the trails from the numerous trailheads in and around the park. You may need to leave the four-legged friends back at the RV; however, since dogs are not allowed in most of Chino Hills State Park. Visitors should check the trail rules to determine if a leashed dog is allowed on the section of the trail you intend to hike. To learn more about all of the trails, pick up a Chino Hills State Park map or consult a park ranger.
If you and yours are itching to get out of the Airstream and stretch your legs, you may want to consider geocaching. Many California State Parks, including Chino Hills State Park, allow hidden geocaches to be buried inside the parks’ boundaries. Geocaching is a worldwide recreational activity where people, called cachers, search for hidden treasures using a handheld GPS unit. The activity has rules and parameters that encourage responsible and eco-friendly treasure hunting, and the state of California enforces and encourages the practices of responsible caching. For more information on this fun and family-friendly activity, check out the official geocaching website.
Because of the limited camping within the park, you may have to search elsewhere for RV accommodation. Luckily, the proximity to urban life means that there are plenty of spots to choose from. Most offsite RV parks have top-notch amenities like full hookups, flush toilets, hot showers, and picnic areas. It's possible to find some that feature conveniences for the full-on glampers such as Wi-Fi, pools, and ocean views.
Feel free to bring the horses along on your RV adventure because there are plenty of trails incorporated in the 90-mile system perfect for horseback riding. There's even an equestrian campground within the park for when you're ready to call it a day. Come ride during the off-season to beat the crowds and the heat. Riders are asked to be aware at all times as you will likely be sharing the trail with hikers, bikers, and possibly the local wildlife. Rain can often put a chink in riding plans, so be sure to check with a park ranger about trail conditions and closures after any rainfall.
If you attached the bikes to the back of the rig, and you enjoy a challenging, hilly mountain bike trail, then try some of the 90 miles of multi-use trails within the Chino Hills State Park trail system. Bike riders should make themselves accustomed to the trails before riding. The park publishes a map and posts trail locations at many of the bulletin boards posted at trailheads or on the trails themselves. Most of the trails are open to hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Not all trails are available to bikers, however, so be sure to check with a park ranger or at the nearest visitor center before hitting the trails. All bikers should adhere to the speed limit, which is 15 miles per hour.
You don’t need to be an experienced birdwatcher to venture out into the park to look for birds. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Western tanager, California quail, Red-tailed hawk or an owl. Knowing about birds and their migratory patterns can help novice bird watchers find the species they are looking for. To get started, buy a bird guide and follow more experienced birdwatchers to learn about the sounds and markings that help indicate a bird’s location.
The Chino Hills State Park staff creates year-round educational programs designed to interest people of varying interests and ages. From Junior Ranger programs to field trip opportunities, or environmental and cultural programs, the staff organizes events and activities that they hope will encourage visitors to become interested in Southern California’s history, geology, and much more. Contact the park’s Interpretive Programs office for more information.
Rolling hills, deep canyons, and tall mountain peaks come together to create the perfect backdrop. Whether you're a seasoned pro, or just looking for a way to remember your camping trip, you won't be without subjects to shoot. Due to the unique geology of the park, many rare lifeforms live here including red-winged blackbirds, southern California black walnut trees, and Tecate cypress trees. If you are photographing or recording video for commercial purposes, you will need to obtain a permit from the California Film Commission. Wherever you wander and whatever snaps you collect, you'll have countless memories of Chino Hills long after you drive the camper out of the gates.
