Mustard springing right here in Southern California. If you have come across wild yellow flowers on the hills during your drive, upgrade that to the Nth level and you’ll get Chino Hills State Park during spring.
I had the time of my life hiking this very picturesque, 3.4 mile short loop named Bane Canyon Trail/Sidewinder/Bane Ridge Trail. Link to my you tube video –https://youtu.be/cAizC9Z6Qoc
They call it black mustard but it’s no black at all. In fact, it’s as sunflowery yellow as it can be. Blanketing the rolling hills of Chino Hills State Park, it’s a delight to the eyesight. If my memory serves me right, this hills of yellow was one of the popular screensaver of windows back in the 80’s. Imagine yourself in that screensaver! How cool is that?!:)
How to get there:
Chino Hills State Park Chino Hills State Park is an open-space near Riverside. It’s proximity to urban areas and its tranquil setting provides a great escape for hiking, walking, horseback riding, and bicycling. Rattlesnakes are common in the park so use caution while hiking.
Address: 4721 Sapphire Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709
Come early as this is a popular hiking area. It is in the middle of a neighborhood. Park on the streets for free but hike 1-2 miles up to the trail head. Otherwise, you can drive up to the ample parking space and pay 5$, exact change, CASH only. It has kiosk if the booth is closed. Also, toilets located there. Be sure to finish your business before trekking to the fields as there are none there.
We arrived past 8 on a Friday, got lucky to still find parking space. From the parking area, we hiked back to the Sidewinder/Bane Ridge trail, which is the right when your coming from the streets below. The left trail is the east ridge trail, lesser popular but as beautiful. This was about half a mile.
The hike:
For a quarter mile you will pass wider, not so flower-densed area. When you get to a bend, the road becomes narrower and the flowers are taller and denser. It starts to incline moderately. Be mindful of your surroundings as bikers also share the trail. Bring walking stick, lots of rattlesnakes in the area. Not recommended to hike in the dark.
After about half a mile, you get to a fork, the right gets you the sidewinder trail that descends down to outlook of yellow rolling hills. You can continue this trail to loop to the Bane Canyon Trail. After enjoying the lookout, we chose to hike back up and continue walking for another half a mile, all this time enjoying the yellows and chirping birds surrounding us.
When you get to one of the highest point of the hills, you’ll realize that you were hiking the ridge. At this point, you’ll be able to view the street down below. Continue hiking down and up again for another half a mile, with the streets disappearing when you descend down the hill and be engulfed by the flowers, and the road reemerges upon reaching the hilltop again.
Mid way of the trail
Follow this trail until you see a tower up at a distance. Be mindful as bikers do pass this trail even on a single person, narrow path. I would advise to talk or have you radio on while walking to keep the rattlesnakes at bay.
For a quarter of a mile before reaching the towers, the streets again emerges in your view. Appreciate how high the elevation gain you’ve conquered.
Once you reach the towers, the right path brings you to another trail. You can continue straight pass the towers or take the left descending down. We opted to take the left as we already hiked 2.5 miles as per my watch, and it’s beginning to be hot and sunny.
From the junction we hike another half a mile to a lookout/parking area. Flowers patches of lavender and whites abound in this trail. Be sure to stop and take in the view and a few snaps shots maybe. We saw other hikers that started out this way, hiked reverse from where we came. I personally liked the way we took.
We reached the lookout/parking area, after about 2 1/2 hrs of hike. We shared a tune sandwich and had something to drink and walked half a mile more to the parking area.
Thing to know before you go
Check the weather. Some of the trails may close due to inclement weather. Come during spring to witness the mustard bloom blanketing the hills.
Bring cash for parking. If you intend to park up 5$ fee is required.
Bring snacks and plenty of water. Although the park is in the middle of a neighborhood, you will be up the hills and deep into the park. It will take hours before you walk back and reach the food or water source. Hopefully just before you faint of dehydration. So be prepared.
Do your business in the parking area bathrooms. Absolutely none on the trails.
Bring bug spray or spray ahead. The flowers are tall and the path can be narrow, that bugs will be abundant. You may wan to bring allergy medication.
Hike with a buddy. It’s a rattle snake area, not that they will charge into you but it is better to hike and appreciate the outdoors with someone. Plus you get to have someone take your photos.:)
Research ahead where you want to hike. There are a lot of hiking trails. Bring a map or screenshot. No map was given on the parking area. Visit their website for more info. Link to Bane Canyon Trail from ALL Trails –https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bane-canyon-loop-trail?ref=result-card
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