Chino Chimes

Hike Eucalyptus South Loop in Chino Hills

The 2.5-mile Eucalyptus South Loop in Chino Hills proves you don’t have to go far to find beautiful places to see the beauty of a late day sun.

This moderate loop begins in Chino Hills Community Park. Half the loop parallels city streets, but the trail is separated from the road by a picket fence and is lined with towering eucalyptus trees. Frequent signs with arrows (and some with mile markers) ensure an easy-to-follow route. Strolling the first 1.3 miles it’s relatively flat and easy. The path eventually turns away from the street and down what looks like a storm drain in an alley between houses. This section is very brief—only 0.2 mile—and then you’ll be on Eucalyptus Trail.

Pack in 377 feet of elevation gain as the trail makes its way up towards a viewpoint worthy of the climb. The rolling hillsides look pastoral, almost like beautiful European countryside. As the sun begins to set, it casts a beautiful glow on the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, giving true meaning to the phrase “purple mountain majesty.” Watch the show from one of the benches here.

It’s all downhill from here, as the sun finally dips below the hillside and views continue to amaze. Listen for the sound of roosters, horses, and cows as you make your way back, and keep your eyes open for rabbits along the trail.

Tip: If you want to skip the street section of the loop or are pressed for time, just head counterclockwise at the trailhead and do the Eucalyptus Trail as an out-and-back, which is roughly 1-mile roundtrip to the summit and back.

{January 2024 Note: Due to recent rains, be sure to check trail conditions before embarking on this hike.} The Eucalyptus South Loop trailhead is located in the Chino Hills Community Park. Location. Parking is free. Park is open from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Bring a headlamp or flashlight if you're going later in the day or to catch part of a sunset. Dog-friendly (must remain on a leash 6 feet long or shorter).

Story and photos by Natalie Bates, @wanderwithnatalie

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. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    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