The Spanish word
“uvas” means “grapes.” Uvas Canyon County Park, a lushly wooded
and mountainous region of 1,133 acres, was so named by Spanish
settlers in the late 1800’s due to the wild abundance of the fruit
found growing on the park’s rugged hillsides.
The Spanish word “uvas” means “grapes.” Uvas Canyon County Park, a lushly wooded and mountainous region of 1,133 acres, was so named by Spanish settlers in the late 1800’s due to the wild abundance of the fruit found growing on the park’s rugged hillsides.
Today, visitors probably won’t find many grapes, but where Uvas Canyon is lacking in the globular fruit, it more than makes up with the wondrous waterfalls cascading around its hiking trails.
Nestled against the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains – south of Almaden Valley and west of Morgan Hill – Uvas Canyon is a relaxing refuge for hikers traversing scenic trails amidst steady streams, six waterfalls and canyons of manzanita, oak and redwood trees. Uvas is a serene escape from the rigors of daily life.
Uvas Canyon’s rich foothills and grasslands provide an ideal location for many activities, such as hiking, camping and picnicking. The park also has six miles of hiking trails, including the one-mile Waterfall Loop, an intimate hike allowing spectacular views of Black Rock Falls and several smaller cascades along Swanson Creek.
Visitors can also take a short hike through the Black Oak Group Picnic Area at the northwestern side of the park to connect with the Contour Trail and the Alec Canyon Trail. There visitors will enjoy the wonderful sights and loud, crashing sounds of rushing water at Basin Falls and Upper Falls. The park, open from 8am until sunset, contains individual picnic sites available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Black Oak Group Picnic Area is available by reservation for groups up to 75 people. The campground has 25 individual campsites that are available by reservation.
“There is a rugged beauty here at Uvas Canyon County Park that is unmatched,” says John Heenan, senior park ranger. “There are dense forests and redwood-filled ridges here that offer a great habitat for bobcats, black-tailed deer and our everyday park visitors.”
Once the tribal territory of the Mutsun Ohlone Indians, Uvas Canyon has numerous historic Indian campsites located throughout its reaches. Many of the early homesteaders of Uvas Canyon sold timber, much of which was used to fuel the furnaces and build the tunnels of the nearby New Almaden Mines. Fires in 1909 and 1924 destroyed a number of homes and remnants of old logging camps.
In the late 19th century, Hyman Kirschbaum settled on Kirschbaum Creek, as did the Swanson family, planting orchards. The creek would later be renamed for the Swansons. Nibb’s Knob, a landmark in the park, is named for Henry Knibb who homesteaded a parcel in the area in 1891. An ordinance of 1891 established Bella Vista Rd., which is the Nibb’s Knob trail today. In 1914, Edward Bosqui, a printer from San Francisco, purchased 120 acres. Bosqui was a State Fish and Game commissioner and entertained VIPs, including Senator James Phelan, owner of Villa Montalvo near the town of Saratoga. The Bosqui holdings were sold to the Swedish American Patriotic League in 1926. The property was dedicated by the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolph and his wife in 1926 and named Sveadal, roughly meaning “Swedish Valley.” The property was developed with cabins and remains a private resort used by the league.
In 1961, the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department acquired the first 425 acres of land.
An additional 256 acres were also purchased and in 1962 the park was opened to the public. Since 1961, more than 600 acres have been added to the park.
Tamara Shear is the Public Information Officer for the County of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Department. She can be contacted at (408) 355-2215 or by E-mail at ta**********@********ov.org
