Hiked March 1, 2026. Eleventh hike of the year, taken the day before my previous post, which was my twelfth of the year. My second visit to Chino Hills State Park in as many weeks. The trip last week was blogged, here. Previous hikes were linked inside that post.
The Chino Hills are still pleasantly green. The most common flowers are black mustard and wild radish, but there was a wider variety of flowers on this hike than what I saw last week, or at least greater densities of those other flowers. On the other hand, the snow cover around Mount San Antonio / Mount Baldy has *really* retreated!
The last time I came this way, the entrance from Sapphire Road was just curb parking, outside of a gate, that blocked a dirt road, that you walked up. Now, Bane Road is paved (albeit very narrow, in places). This isn't helped by the fact that groups of pedestrians often walk 4 or 5 abreast, more than filling entire lanes.
About 1/2 mile after turning on Bane Canyon Road, you reach the entry kiosk. Normal entrance costs $10, or $9 for seniors over age 62. Dogs are permitted on the paved road and parking areas, but not on the trails. The same with e-bikes. Mountain bikes and equestrians are permitted on trails. Flying of drones is not permitted.
The pavement continues for about another mile, ending in the camping area, where day parking is not generally permitted. A 1/4 mile or so before that is the equestrian / group camping area, where there is substantial parking. Between the equestrian area and the entry kiosk were about three overlook or picnic areas, each with room for only two or three vehicles.
I parked in the equestrian area. There are flush toilets and an outside water spigot there. The Upper Bane Ridge trail starts from above the restrooms, at the north end of the parking area.
It's a pretty long set of climbs to get to the ridge top. The trail is narrow in spots, at least when the grasses are tall and hug the trail, as they do, in late winter and early spring. The main flower on the lower areas were invasive black mustard and various wild radish.
The trail generally trends north or north-northwest. Some nice views of Mount San Antonio / Mount Baldy, beyond mustard blooms.
This was a Sunday, and the trail was moderately busy. Seems like most people walking up the pavement must have hiked elsewhere, however, and there were less than a dozen cars in the parking area, here.
This trail eventually takes you to some high tension powerline structures. There's a "trail" that shoots off to the left around here, but it is signed for SCE use, only. Another trail (Pomona Trail) goes down the right, just before the powerlines, towards the paved Bane Canyon Road (a trail parallels much of the road down there).
The upper Bane Canyon Road ends at the next fork. Going straight is the East Fence Line trail, which also loops down towards paved Bane Canyon Road. Left is the Sidewinder trail, which I took.
The Sidewinder trial was narrow on the way down, with lots of thistle. Even through my long pants, I could feel the point leaves, poking through.
I wanted to get to San Juan Hill, the highest point in the park, so I took the most direct route, as I looked at a two-dimenstional map. This may have led to some unnecesssary climbing and losing of altitude along the way. When I came to the Aliso Canyon Trail, I turned right, there, crossing a small, seasonal seep.
The next right was the Raptor Ridge trail, just over a mile after starting the Aliso Canyon trail. Followed Raptor Ridge for another mile, to where it ends, at "Five Points."
In addition to Raptor Ridge, the Telegraph Canyon Trail passes through Five Points, as does another trail, from the north. Heading straight through Five Points from Raptor Ridge, however, the trail becomes Bovinian Delight. This reminds me of a previous trip to Chino Hills State Park, when I ran into a cow. I don't think cow graze here, anymore.
About 1.25 mile from there to the South Ridge Trail. A left turn there leads you up to San Juan Hill, abeit with a slight diversion for a more direct approach.
Spent about ten minutes snapping photos up there, then continued on down the South Ridge Trail for about three miles. Slight jig down near the campground to get from the South Ridge trail over to a spur trail that would take me back to the group camping parking area without needing to spend much time walking on the actual road.
10.44 miles for the day, and 1834 feet of vertical gain. Pretty long hike. Some nice flowers. Lots of green grass. It was a good day for hiking.
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