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Uvas Canyon County Park facts for kids

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Uvas Canyon County Park
Swanson Creek, Uvas Canyon County Park.jpg
Swanson Creek in Uvas Canyon
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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 beautiful natural park covering about 1,147 acres. It's located in the upper part of Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, just west of Morgan Hill, California. This park is famous for its many small waterfalls. Some of these waterfalls flow all year round, feeding into streams that join Uvas Creek.

Uvas Canyon County Park is part of the Santa Clara County Parks system. It's a great place for many outdoor activities like picnics, hiking, and even overnight camping. What's cool about this park is that it's one of the few places in the area where you can bring your dog to the campgrounds!

To get to Uvas Canyon County Park, you'll drive on Croy Road. This road is paved and has two lanes at first. It then narrows to a single lane as you pass through a small private community called Sveadal, right before you reach the park entrance.

Park History: What Happened in 2017?

In 2017, the park faced a big challenge. Very heavy rains caused a lot of damage to parts of Croy Road. Many of the park's hiking trails were also badly affected. After a lot of hard work and repairs, the park was finally able to reopen its doors to visitors.

Discovering the Plants of Uvas Canyon

Uvas Canyon County Park is home to many different kinds of trees and plants. Some of these plants are native to the area, meaning they grew there naturally. However, some non-native species were brought in by early settlers. You can find a more complete list in the park's Waterfall Loop Nature Trail Guide.

Here are some of the plants you might see:

Flora in Uvas Canyon County Park
  • California buckeye in uvas canyon

    California Buckeye tree in the park. Its flowers provide nectar to butterflies.

  • California juniper in uvas canyon

    California Juniper tree in the park. This tree was brought in by early settlers.

  • Canyon live oak in uvas canyon

    Canyon Live Oak tree in the park. Many animals eat its acorns and leaves.

  • Sticky monkey flower in uvas canyon

    Sticky monkey flowers in the park. Hummingbirds and bees pollinate these yellowish flowers.

  • White alder in uvas canyon

    White alder tree overlooking a creek in the park.

Meet the Animals of Uvas Canyon

Uvas Canyon County Park is also home to many amazing animals. These animals are native to the area, meaning they naturally live here. Keep an eye out for them during your visit!

Here are some of the animals you might spot:

Fauna in Uvas Canyon County Park

Exploring the Waterfalls of Uvas Canyon

The park is famous for its seven small waterfalls. Five of these waterfalls are named on park maps and have special signs to help you find them.

Here are the named waterfalls:

  • Basin Falls
  • Black Rock Falls
  • Granuja Falls
  • Triple Falls
  • Upper Falls

The water for these streams comes from rain and natural springs. Even though the streams flow all year, the best time to see the waterfalls at their fullest is right after it has rained a lot. This is when they are most impressive!

Waterfalls of Uvas Canyon County Park
  • Basin Falls

    Basin Falls is about 20 feet tall.

  • Upper Black Rock Falls

    Black Rock Falls

  • Granuja Falls

    Granuja Falls

  • Triple Falls

    Triple Falls is about 35 feet tall.

  • Upper Falls

    Upper Falls

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