Over the centuries, many people have made use of the open spaces and plentiful water, plant and animal resources of the Chino Hills.
Prior to European contact, the Tongva-Gabrieliño Indians, who lived in settlements along the Santa Ana River basin for 8,000 years, set up temporary camps in the hills for gathering acorns, elderberries, walnuts and other seeds.

After the Spanish founded Mission San Gabriel in 1771, the Chino Hills were used extensively for grazing by mission cattle.
During the Mexican Republic era, the hills were used as spillover grazing from such surrounding Mexican ranchos as Santa Ana del Chino and La Sierra Yorba.
The United States then conquered the territory in 1848 after battles with Mexican forces who declared US encroachment illegal.
After this conquest, the land was still used primarily for grazing.

Private land acquisition began in the 1870s and continued into the 1890s.
In 1848, the 1,720-acre (700 ha) Rolling M Ranch was established and the land leased to nearby landowners for cattle grazing.
Some late nineteenth and early twentieth century oil exploration and mining activity also took place in the northwestern section of what is now the park.
A ranch house, barn, and several windmills and watering troughs serve as reminders of the cattle ranching days.
Over the centuries, many people have made use of the open spaces and plentiful water, plant and animal resources of the Chino Hills. Prior to European contact, the Tongva-Gabrieliño Indians, who lived in settlements along the Santa Ana River basin for 8,000 years, set up temporary camps in the hills for gathering acorns, elderberries, walnuts and other seeds.
After the Spanish founded Mission San Gabriel in 1771, the Chino Hills were used extensively for grazing by mission cattle. During the Mexican Republic era, the hills were used as spillover grazing from such surrounding Mexican ranchos as Santa Ana del Chino and La Sierra Yorba. The United States then conquered the territory in 1848 after battles with Mexican forces who declared US encroachment illegal. After this conquest, the land was still used primarily for grazing.
Private land acquisition began in the 1870s and continued into the 1890s. In 1848, the 1,720-acre (700 ha) Rolling M Ranch was established and the land leased to nearby landowners for cattle grazing. Some late nineteenth and early twentieth century oil exploration and mining activity also took place in the northwestern section of what is now the park. A ranch house, barn, and several windmills and watering troughs serve as reminders of the cattle ranching days.
Chino Hills State Park