Chino Hills State Park preserves a large stretch of Southern California landscape in the Chino Hills, linking the Chino–Puente Hills wildlife corridor and protecting grasslands, sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland, and other native habitats across more than 14,000 acres. For centuries, Tongva-Gabrieliño people used these hills seasonally to gather plant foods. After Mission San Gabriel was founded in 1771, the area was heavily grazed through the mission, rancho, and American periods, with ranching structures still remaining. Oil exploration and mining also touched part of the area. Protection efforts gained force in the late twentieth century, and after an initial land purchase, the park entered the California State Park System in 1984 and expanded further.