Between Los Angeles and Riverside, just off State Route 71, sits Chino Hills — a San Bernardino County suburb of roughly 78,000 people that rarely makes traveller itineraries. That's a shame, because it combines two things that are hard to find together in Southern California: low crime and easy access to serious outdoors.
The safety credentials are real. OCity put it 47th out of 100 U.S. cities for safety in 2026, and Niche data shows violent crime well below the national average. Regional economist Dr. John Husing has described it as one of Southern California's best kept secrets. Location helps too — Riverside is 35 minutes away, downtown LA about an hour, and Palm Springs under two, making it a calm base for day trips. Fly into Ontario International Airport, just 15 miles from town.
The main draw is green space. The city itself has 44 parks and 48 miles of trails, while neighbouring Chino Hills State Park adds 14,000 acres and more than 90 miles of paths for hiking, biking and horseback riding. In wet years, February to April bring a genuine superbloom: California poppies, arroyo lupines and Canterbury bells colouring the hills around Santa Ana Canyon. The Bane Ridge Trail is the route for it — though no dogs allowed, and rattlesnakes are common, so walk with a bit of awareness.
There's a cultural side too. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest traditionally built Hindu temple in California, assembled from 35,000 carved pieces of Italian Carrara marble and Indian pink sandstone, and open daily. A combined Mandir and Buddhist Temple Tour adds Hsi Lai Temple and its gardens in nearby Hacienda Heights, where visitors can join a vegetarian lunch served from 11:30 a.m.
Food leans strongly Asian. Locals favour Holy Cow for Wagyu Japanese barbecue, Vanilla Fish for sushi and Le Kinnaree for Thai curries and soups. On Wednesdays, the Heritage Farmers Market sets up at The Shops at Chino Hills from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., with artisanal goods and street food alongside produce.
Lodging spans the range. Rough-and-ready travellers can book a primitive site at Rolling M Ranch Campground in the state park from $30 a night; everyone else can pick between a forest cottage rental with a hot tub or the well-reviewed Ayres Hotel Chino Hills, where rooms run around $100–$150.
Chino Hills suits families and road-trippers who want a safe, affordable stop with trails on the doorstep — and it's an easy detour if you're already hopping between LA, Riverside and Palm Springs.
