{{Short description|Park in California}} {{more citations needed|date=July 2018}} {{Infobox park | name = Uvas Canyon County Park | image = Swanson Creek, Uvas Canyon County Park.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Swanson Creek in Uvas Canyon | type = County park | location = 8515 Croy Rd Morgan Hill, CA 95037 | area = {{convert|1.79|sqmi|abbr=on}} | created = | operator = Santa Clara County Parks | visitation_num = | status = Open daily | map = USA California#USA | relief = 1 | map_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = }}
'''Uvas Canyon County Park''' is a {{convert|1,147|acre|adj=on}} 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,<ref name = "SCCPRD-UvasCanyon"/> and facilitates picnics, hiking and overnight camping. It is one of the few parks in the area that allows dogs in the campgrounds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uvas Canyon County Park |url=https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/locations/uvas-canyon-county-park |website=Santa Clara County Parks |access-date=April 27, 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-06 |title=Uvas Canyon Park waterfalls reap benefits of recent Bay Area rain - CBS San Francisco |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/uvas-canyon-park-waterfalls-reap-benefits-recent-rain/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uvas Canyon Brochure.pdf |url=https://parks.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb961/files/documents/Uvas%20Canyon%20Brochure.pdf |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=County of Santa Clara - Santa Clara County Parks}}</ref>
==History== 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.<ref name = "SCCPRD-UvasCanyon"/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan Hill Times Staff |date=2018-04-10 |title=Uvas Canyon park reopens {{!}} Morgan Hill Times {{!}} Morgan Hill, San Martin, CA |url=https://morganhilltimes.com/uvas-canyon-park-reopens/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |work=Morgan Hill Times {{!}} Morgan Hill, San Martin, CA |language=en-US}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uvas Canyon Brochure.pdf |url=https://parks.sccgov.org/sites/g/files/exjcpb961/files/documents/Uvas%20Canyon%20Brochure.pdf |access-date=January 19, 2024 |website=County of Santa Clara - Santa Clara County Parks}}</ref>
== Flora == 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. {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Bigleaf maple (''Acer macrophyllum'') * California 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 (''Notholithocarpus densiflorus'') * Thimbleberry (''Rubus parviflorus'') * Tree of heaven (''Ailanthus altissima'') * Western sycamore (''Platanus racemosa'') * White alder (''Alnus rhombifolia'') * Wood rose (''Rosa gymnocarpa'') <!-- There's confusion in the brochure about this/these species--> * Periwinkle (''Vinca major'') * Trailing myrtle (''Vinca minor'') {{div col end}}
{{Gallery | title=Flora in Uvas Canyon County Park | width=160 | height=170 | Image:California buckeye in uvas canyon.jpg |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. | Image:California juniper in uvas canyon.jpg |California juniper tree in the park. Although native to other parts of California, this one was brought in by early settlers. | Image:Canyon live oak in uvas canyon.jpg |Canyon live oak tree in the park. A variety of fauna forage on the tree's acorns and foliage. | Image:Sticky monkey flower in uvas canyon.jpg |Sticky monkey flowers in the park. The yellowish flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds and bees. | Image:White alder in uvas canyon.jpg |White alder tree overlooking creek in the park. Thick vines of poison oak have grown around the base of the tree. }}
==Fauna== Some animals native to the area include: {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Anna's hummingbird * Banana slug * Black-tailed deer * California carpenter bee * California forest scorpion * California newt * California quail * Convergent lady beetle * Coyote * Mountain lion * Red-tailed hawk * Steller's jay * Santa Cruz garter snake * California ebony tarantula * Turkey vulture * Wild turkey {{div col end}}
{{Gallery |title=Fauna in Uvas Canyon County Park |width=160 |height=170 |Image:Convergent Lady Beetles, Uvas canyon CA.jpg |Convergent lady beetles near waterfall trail. Lady Bugs gather in the mountain valleys when they enter their overwintering diapause stage. |Image:RedTailHawk-UvasCreek.jpg |Red-tailed hawk sitting on the banks of Uvas Creek near Sveadal. The hawks prey on steelhead trout that periodically appear in the creek. |Image:Steller's Jay nesting in California bay tree.jpg |Steller's jay nesting in a California Bay tree near Sveadal. The birds typically nest in the springtime. |Image:Turkey vulture in redwood tree.jpg |Turkey vulture perched in a redwood tree near Sveadal. The vulture, along with several others nearby, eye carrion below. }}
== Waterfalls == {{more citations needed section|date=September 2014}} The park has seven small waterfalls,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uvas Canyon County Park Trail Runs |url=http://www.trailstompers.com/uvas-canyon-county-park-trail-runs.html |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=Trailstompers Guide to SF Bay Area Trail Running |language=en}}</ref> five of which are named on park maps and identified with signposts: * Basin Falls {{coord|37.07973|-121.80613|type:landmark_region:US-CA |name=Basin Falls}} * Black Rock Falls {{coord|37.08246|-121.80095|type:landmark_region:US-CA |name=Black Rock Falls}} * Granuja Falls * Triple Falls {{coord|37|04|41|N|121|47|39|W |type:landmark_region:US-CA |name=Triple Falls}} * Upper Falls {{coord|37|04|47|N|121|48|08|W |type:landmark_region:US-CA |name=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.
{{Gallery | title=Waterfalls of Uvas Canyon County Park | width=160 | height=170 | Image:Basin Falls.jpg | Basin Falls is around 20 feet tall, and is at an elevation of about 1100 ft. | Image:Upper Black Rock Falls.jpg | Black Rock Falls | Image:Granuja_Falls.jpg | Granuja Falls | Image:Triple Falls.jpg | Triple Falls is around 35 feet tall. | Image:Upper Falls.jpg | Upper Falls }}
== References == <references> <ref name="SCCPRD-UvasCanyon"> {{cite web | url = http://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/parkfinder/Pages/UvasCanyon.aspx | title = Uvas Canyon County Park. Parks and Recreation. County of Santa Clara | publisher = County of Santa Clara | access-date = 2014-09-06 }}</ref> </references>
== External links == {{commons category}} *{{cite web | url= http://www.waterfallswest.com/waterfall.php?id=black-rock-falls-343 | title= Black Rock Falls | author= Leon Turnbull | work= Waterfalls of California | publisher= waterfallswest.com | access-date= 2009-12-06 }}
{{Morgan Hill, California}} {{Santa Clara County Parks}} {{Santa Cruz Mountains}}
Category:Municipal parks in California Category:Morgan Hill, California Category:County Parks in Santa Clara County, California Category:Santa Cruz Mountains Category:Landforms of Santa Clara County, California
{{SantaClaraCountyCA-geo-stub}}