They continue the line of the Santa Ana Mountains and Peninsular Ranges northwest from Santa Ana Canyon to Brea Canyon, where the Puente Hills lead both west and northeast. The only paved road crossing is State Route 142 through Carbon Canyon.

The Chino Hills are in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of the California Floristic Province. The California native plants here are in the chaparral and oak woodland plant communities, with remnant stands of native grasses of California.

On 29 July, 2008, a magnitude 5.5 earthquake was located 3 miles southwest of Chino Hills that was felt throughout Southern California and felt as far east as Las Vegas and as far south as San Diego. It occurred at 11:42 am PDT and caused structural damage to buildings, including to St. Jude Centers for Rehabilitation and Wellness and to the Pomona City Hall. Water mains were ruptured in limited areas of Los Angeles, and superficial damage was done to the facades of businesses and other buildings. Many businesses, including Wal-Mart, reported damage to merchandise which was knocked to the floor.

There were reports of minor injuries but no fatalities.

The famed Cliff Swallows of Mission San Juan Capistrano are now nesting in the Chino Hills. Thousands of the small birds, up from 'wintering' in Argentina, have built their mud nests in the eaves of the Vellano Country Club, a community situated around a golf course in the hills.