Uvas Canyon County Park

Swanson Creek, Uvas Canyon County Park, California

Uvas Canyon County Park is part of the Santa Clara County Park System. This natural park is located in upper Uvas Canyon on the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, and has several small waterfalls, some of which flow perennially. It is also very close to San Jose and Silicon Valley. It facilitates picnics, hiking and overnight camping. It is one of the few parks in the area that will allow dogs in the campgrounds.

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.

• Bigleaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum)
• Blackberry (Rubus ursinus)
• California Buckeye (Aesculus 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 (Pityrogramma triangularis)
• Madrone (Arbutus menziesii)
• Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum)
• Sticky Monkey Flower (Diplacus auraniacus)
• 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)

Waterfalls

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
• Black Rock Falls 37°04′57″N 121°48′03″W
• Granuja Falls
• Triple Falls 37°04′41″N 121°47′39″W
• Upper Falls 37°04′47″N 121°48′08″W

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.   Black Rock Falls   Granuja Falls   Triple Falls is around 35 feet tall.   Upper Falls

External links

• Santa Clara County web site for Uvas Canyon County Park
• Leon Turnbull. "Black Rock Falls". Waterfalls of California. waterfallswest.com. http://www.waterfallswest.com/ca-black-rock-falls.html. Retrieved 2009-12-06.