Uvas Canyon County Park

Park in California

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Uvas Canyon County Park
Swanson Creek in Uvas Canyon
Uvas Canyon County Park is located in California Uvas Canyon County Park Show map of California Uvas Canyon County Park is located in the United States Uvas Canyon County Park Show map of the United States
Type	County park
Location	8515 Croy Rd Morgan Hill, CA 95037
Area	1.79 sq mi (4.6 km²)
Operated by	Santa Clara County Parks
Status	Open daily

Uvas Canyon County Park is a 1,147-acre (464 ha) natural park located in upper Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Morgan Hill, California. The park has several small waterfalls, some of which flow perennially, that feed into tributaries confluent with Uvas Creek. The park is part of the Santa Clara County Parks System,^[1] and facilitates picnics, hiking and overnight camping. It is one of the few parks in the area that allows dogs in the campgrounds.

Access to Uvas Canyon County Park is via Croy Road, a two-lane paved secondary road off Uvas Road with no outlet that narrows to a single lane within the small private community of Sveadal, just before the park entrance.

The park is located at 8515 Croy Rd, Morgan Hill. Uvas Canyon has 7.2 miles of hiking trails that includes a 1 mile Waterfall Loop. There are picnic areas and campsites as well. At one time Uvas Canyon was the tribal territory of the Mutsun Ohlone Indians. Uva is the Spanish word for grape. Uvas Creek and Uvas Canyon were named for the wild grapes once abundant in the area.^[2]

History

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In 2017, a significant portion of the park's trail network as well as Croy Road were damaged by heavy rains. The park has now been reopened following extensive repairs.^[1]

Uvas Canyon County Park is 1147 acres. In 1961 the County Parks Department bought the first parcel of 425 acres of land for Uvas Canyon County Park from Mrs. Lois (Wallace-McPhee) Allen. This land has the park entrance, picnic grounds and campgrounds. Another 256 acres was purchased in 1961 and the park opened in 1962 for use of the camping facilities. Over 600 acres have been added to the park since 1961.^[3]

Flora

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A partial list of trees and plants found in the park is described in the park's Waterfall Loop Nature Trail Guide. Some are non-native species, brought in by early settlers.

Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum )
Blackberry (Rubus ursinus )
California Buckeye (Aesculus californica )
California Juniper (Juniperus californica )
California Laurel (Umbellularia californica )
California Nutmeg (Torreya californica )
California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica )
Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis )
Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens )
Coastal Wood Fern (Dryopteris arguta )
Coyote Brush (Baccharis spp. )
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii )
Golden Back Fern (Pentagramma triangularis )
Madrone (Arbutus menziesii )
Miner's Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata )
Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum )
Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus aurantiacus )
Western Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum )
Tanbark Oak (Lithocarpus densiflorus )
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus )
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima )
Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa )
White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia )
Wood Rose (Rosa gymnocarpa )
Periwinkle (Vinca major )
Trailing Myrtle (Vinca minor )

Flora in Uvas Canyon County Park

California Buckeye tree in the park. The bark, leaves and fruits of the tree are poisonous to eat. However, its flowers provide nectar to butterflies.

California Buckeye tree in the park. The bark, leaves and fruits of the tree are poisonous to eat. However, its flowers provide nectar to butterflies.
California Juniper tree in the park. Although native to other parts of California, this one was brought in by early settlers.

California Juniper tree in the park. Although native to other parts of California, this one was brought in by early settlers.
Canyon Live Oak tree in the park. A variety of fauna forage on the tree's acorns and foliage.

Canyon Live Oak tree in the park. A variety of fauna forage on the tree's acorns and foliage.
Sticky monkey flowers in the park. The yellowish flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees.

Sticky monkey flowers in the park. The yellowish flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees.
White alder tree overlooking creek in the park. Thick vines of poison oak have grown around the base of the tree.

White alder tree overlooking creek in the park. Thick vines of poison oak have grown around the base of the tree.

Fauna

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Some animals native to the area include:

Fauna in Uvas Canyon County Park

Convergent Lady Beetles near waterfall trail. Lady Bugs gather in the mountain valleys when they enter their overwintering diapause stage.

Convergent Lady Beetles near waterfall trail. Lady Bugs gather in the mountain valleys when they enter their overwintering diapause stage.
Red-tailed Hawk sitting on the banks of Uvas Creek near Sveadal. The hawks prey on steelhead trout that periodically appear in the creek.

Red-tailed Hawk sitting on the banks of Uvas Creek near Sveadal. The hawks prey on steelhead trout that periodically appear in the creek.
Steller's Jay nesting in a California Bay tree near Sveadal. The birds typically nest in the springtime.

Steller's Jay nesting in a California Bay tree near Sveadal. The birds typically nest in the springtime.
Turkey vulture perched in a Redwood tree near Sveadal. The vulture, along with several others nearby, eye carrion below.

Turkey vulture perched in a Redwood tree near Sveadal. The vulture, along with several others nearby, eye carrion below.

Waterfalls

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The park has seven small waterfalls, five of which are named on park maps and identified with signposts:

Basin Falls 37°04′47′′N 121°48′22′′W / 37.07973°N 121.80613°W / 37.07973; -121.80613 (Basin Falls)
Black Rock Falls 37°04′57′′N 121°48′03′′W / 37.08246°N 121.80095°W / 37.08246; -121.80095 (Black Rock Falls)
Granuja Falls
Triple Falls 37°04′41′′N 121°47′39′′W / 37.07806°N 121.79417°W / 37.07806; -121.79417 (Triple Falls)
Upper Falls 37°04′47′′N 121°48′08′′W / 37.07972°N 121.80222°W / 37.07972; -121.80222 (Upper Falls)

The streams are rain and spring fed. Even though the streams are perennial, the best time to visit these waterfalls is after recent rains.

Waterfalls of Uvas Canyon County Park

Basin Falls is around 20 feet tall, and is at an elevation of about 1100 ft.

Basin Falls is around 20 feet tall, and is at an elevation of about 1100 ft.
Black Rock Falls

Black Rock Falls
Granuja Falls

Granuja Falls
Triple Falls is around 35 feet tall.

Triple Falls is around 35 feet tall.
Upper Falls

Upper Falls

References

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^ ^a ^b "Uvas Canyon County Park. Parks and Recreation. County of Santa Clara". County of Santa Clara. Retrieved 2014年09月06日.
^ "Uvas Canyon Brochure.pdf" (PDF). County of Santa Clara - Santa Clara County Parks. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
^ "Uvas Canyon Brochure.pdf" (PDF). County of Santa Clara - Santa Clara County Parks. Retrieved January 19, 2024.

External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Uvas Canyon County Park .

Leon Turnbull. "Black Rock Falls". Waterfalls of California. waterfallswest.com. Retrieved 2009年12月06日.

v t e Morgan Hill, California
Buildings	21-Mile House Malaguerra Winery Metcalf Energy Center Morgan Hill station Rhoades Ranch Villa Mira Monte
Education	Morgan Hill Unified School District Live Oak High School Oakwood School
Events, history, and culture	1984 Morgan Hill earthquake Mushroom Mardi Gras Festival Poppy Jasper International Film Festival Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche Rancho San Francisco de las Llagas
Natural monuments	Anderson Lake Chesbro Lake Coyote Creek Coyote Creek Trail El Toro Fisher Creek Henry W. Coe State Park (Poverty Flat Site) Mount Sizer Rancho Las Uvas Rancho Ojo del Agua de la Coche Rancho San Vicente Twin Peaks Uvas Canyon County Park (Uvas Falls) Uvas Reservoir
Neighborhoods	Coyote Valley (Coyote) Madrone Sveadal
Radio stations	KSQQ
Related	Monterey Road The Morgan Hill Times Orbicular jasper Silicon Valley Strikers
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Santa Clara County Parks

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v t e Santa Cruz Mountains
Peaks	Black Mountain Crystal Peak Loma Prieta Long Ridge Montara Mountain Mount Bielawski Mount Chual Mount Madonna Mount Thayer Mount Umunhum San Bruno Mountain Santa Teresa Hills Twin Peaks
Rivers and creeks	Adobe Creek Alamitos Creek Alpine Creek Bean Creek Bogess Creek Boulder Creek Branciforte Creek Butano Creek Carbonera Creek Clear Creek Coyote Creek Deer Creek El Corte de Madera Creek Guadalupe River Guadalupe Valley Creek Hale Creek Harrington Creek La Honda Creek Laguna Creek Little Boulder Creek Llagas Creek Loch Lomond Los Gatos Creek Love Creek Naples Creek Permanente Creek Pescadero Creek Peters Creek Pilarcitos Creek San Bruno Creek San Francisquito Creek San Gregorio Creek San Lorenzo River San Pedro Creek San Vicente Creek Stevens Creek Tip Toe Falls Uvas Creek Waddell Creek Waterman Creek Zayante Creek
Parks	Big Basin Redwoods State Park Butano State Park Castle Rock State Park Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park McNee Ranch State Park Portola Redwoods State Park Redwood Grove San Bruno Mountain State Park Sanborn County Park The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park Uvas Canyon County Park
Hiking trails	Bay Area Ridge Trail Devil's Slide Trail Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail
Open Space Preserves	Bear Creek Redwoods Coal Creek El Corte de Madera Creek El Sereno Foothills Fremont Older La Honda Creek Long Ridge Los Trancos Monte Bello Picchetti Ranch Pulgas Ridge Purisima Creek Redwoods Rancho San Antonio Ravenswood Russian Ridge Saratoga Gap Sierra Azul Skyline Ridge St. Joseph's Hill Stevens Creek Teague Hill Thornewood Windy Hill
Other	Santa Cruz Mountains AVA

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