The landscape of the reserve unit includes the summit of Pine Hill (2,031 feet or 619 metres) with prominent ridgelines heading northeast, west, and south.

Waterways in the general area include a portion of the South Fork American River, along with perennial and intermittent tributary streams such as Weber, Martel and Sweetwater Creeks.

Preservation efforts started in 1977, when surplus lands managed by the California Department of Forestry were to be disposed of in the Pine Hill area.

Environmental groups joined to urge the state to set aside significant natural areas from development and by 1979, the summit of Pine Hill became a state-owned ecological reserve of 320 acres (1.3 km2).

[5] Beginning in 1977, the California Native Plant Society became aware of CDF's intention to dispose of the 300-acre (1.2 km2) property surrounding the fire lookout station.

Correspondence from CDF to the state's Department of General Services listed properties, including Pine Hill, as surplus.

[5] The Society united with other environmental groups to encourage the state government to begin a coordinated effort to preserve significant natural areas.

[6] The California Native Plant Society together with the Department of Fish and Game provided El Dorado County with information about the various species and the need for protection in 1989.

The county Board of Supervisors approved funding of a field survey and study by the private company, EIP Associates in early 1991.

[7] In 1992, The Board of Supervisors had an advisory committee formed, with members from the development community, county, state and federal agencies, and environmental groups, including the American River Conservancy.

The El Dorado County General Plan was adopted by the Board in January, 1996 and amended (Resolution 57–98) in March, 1998 to include the Cameron Park unit.

[7] In 2001, a Cooperative Management Agreement (CMA) for the Pine Hill Preserve was signed by three federal agencies (Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and US Bureau of Reclamation), two state agencies (California Department of Fish and Game and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection), El Dorado County, El Dorado Irrigation District, and the American River Conservancy.

[7] The American River Conservancy's participation includes maintaining property acquisition summary records on behalf of all the member agencies.

Plant species of the chaparral type include chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), white leaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos viscida), toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), California redbud (Cercis occidentalis), poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), different species of Ceanothus, and California coffeeberry (Frangula californica) (syn: Rhamnus californica).

It is possibly a close relative to the dwarf flannelbush species found in Butte, Nevada, and Yuba Counties in the Sierras, but ongoing studies have yet to determine to what degree.

[21] Endemic to El Dorado County, it is low-growing perennial herb of the coffee family (Rubiaceae) with pale-yellow flowers blooming in May and June.