Uvas Canyon County Park

Despite the recent rain, the waterfalls at Uvas Canyon County Park were below normal for this time of year.  My De Anza College class assembled at the visitor parking lot at 10 am and then headed up the road and began our 5.2 mile walk by way of the Waterfall Loop Trail.

Along Uvas Creek we paused to examine at least five species of ferns as well as big-leaf maple, Douglas fir, bay laurel, and alder trees. I caught a young alligator lizard and put it in my hat. We saw many species of wild flowers, including red larkspur, two-eyed violet, chaparral pea, yerba santa, golden yarrow, morning glory, and blue gilia. We took short side trips to view Black Rock Falls, Upper Falls, and Basin Falls.

After the Hot House Site, we crossed the creek and headed east on the Contour Trail and then right on the Alec Canyon Trail where we stopped for lunch at Manzanita Point. Some of us enjoyed the sight of a roosting hummingbird while we ate lunch and admired the view of the Diablo Range to the east. After lunch we continued on to Triple Falls, which one of the students quipped should be known as "Trickle Falls" because of the drought.  On the way back some of us saw a baby rattlesnake crossing Alec Canyon Trail.

TO GET THERE... From Highway 101 south from San Jose, take Bailey Avenue west and McKean Road (which turns into Uvas Road) south, and then turn right (west) on Croy Road to the park.