Lupine Around Chino Hills

A Wildflower Hike in Chino Hills State Park

{APRIL 13, 2023 UPDATE: Due to recent storms, before going to the park, please check ahead for weather forecasts, along with trail status and conditions; trails can be muddy and have debris or unexpected hazards; exercise good judgement and caution.}

All of the flowers without any of the mayhem! That’s the 3.4-mile, lightly trafficked Sidewinder/Upper Aliso Canyon Loop Trail in Chino Hills State Park. The trail starts off on the popular (meaning crowded) Upper Aliso Canyon Trail. Looking up into the hills, you can see patches of bright orange California poppies, and quite possibly some cottontail rabbits as you hike through the park’s grasslands. After three-quarters of a mile, you’ll reach the turnoff for the Sidewinder Trail. The trail is overgrown in sections, it's best to wear long pants. It loops around the rolling green hillsides during the course of a whopping 364 feet of elevation gain, passing the occasional vista point overlooking the park, as well as more patches of poppies.

But poppies aren’t the only flowers you’ll see. Canterbury bells, lupine, sand verbena, desert lilies, sunflowers, and evening primrose all create a brilliant display no matter where you look. Sure, you could go join the mobs at a superbloom, but the Sidewinder Trail has something those places don’t: peace, quiet, and solitude. Keep left at both of the forks to complete the loop. After around 2 miles you’ll meet up again with the Upper Aliso Canyon Trail and then head back out the way you came, creating a lollipop loop. If you have extra time, add on any of the other forks, such as Bane Ridge or Raptor Ridge Trails. With so many interconnecting options, you can make the hike as long as you want. Be sure to utilize the free park map on offer at the entrance station—it’s easy to get turned around on the park’s 90-plus miles of trails.

Chino Hills State Park is located off of the 71 freeway in Chino Hills. From the 71, exit Soquel Canyon Pkwy. and head west. Make a left on Elinvar Dr., then a left on Sapphire Rd. The park entrance will be on your right, on Bane Canyon Rd. Drive for a few minutes up a somewhat steep hill until you reach the entrance station. From there, continue for several more minutes until the road leads you into the parking area for the Rolling M Ranch and campground. The trailhead is at the far end of the parking lot. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  2. Hike the Oursan Trail alongside Briones Reservoir in the East Bay

    Opt for Oursan

    Hike the trail less traveled in the East Bay's Briones Regional Park. The Oursan Trail is pure serenity on a wide hiking path skirting the northern shores of Briones Reservoir.

    View
  3. Most Peaceful Hike of All

    Is this the most peaceful one-hour hike in the Bay Area? It's got our vote! Lake Lagunitas is the smallest lake in a series of five found on the north side of Mount Tam, so it’s got that tiny but mighty charm. Do a 1.5-mile loop around the lake's shore-hugging trail.

    View
  4. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  2. Lace Up for Lacy

    Lacy Park in San Marino is a hidden gem that may very well be the most pristine green space in greater Los Angeles, and a concealed pair of nearby stairways makes it all the more appealing.

    View
  3. Hiker amid trees at Oak Glen Preserve in Yucaipa Southern California

    Apple of Your Eye

    That fall feeling is definitely in the air and on display at the Oak Glen Preserve. Apple orchards and colorful leaves are a bonus, as are the apple cider donuts and slushies you can enjoy post-hike.

    View
  4. Hike San Diego Volcan Mountain Wilderness

    Planet of the Oaks

    Let us count the number of oak tree species in the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian: coast, scrub, canyon, black, and Engelmann. Five! The preserve’s Five Oaks Trail is a 3.2-mile hike that boasts all five.

    View