Uvas Canyon County Park, Santa Clara County, CA, 3/12/2011
The winter of 2011 was unusually rainy in California and so the creeks and waterfalls of Uvas Canyon were flowing heavily on this March afternoon. While walking along the south leg of Waterfall Loop Trail I spotted this delicate fall on Swanson Creek. I was immediately impressed by the gracefulness and symmetry of the fall and how the smoothness of the flowing water contrasted with its rugged surroundings. Only 18 inches high in such a rocky setting, this dainty translucent waterfall forms a perfect intimate landscape. When a stream flows over a precipice - be it high or low - such as these rocks and plunges downward, a waterfall is formed. The water in Uvas Canyon's creeks comes from a combination of springs and rainfall. Swanson Creek is a year-round stream that supports a wide variety of of plant and animal life. The creek is named after the Swanson family who settled here in the late 19th century, planting vineyards and orchards. Swanson Creek flows into Uvas Creek, which flows from the Santa Cruz Mountains through Uvas Canyon County Park into Uvas Reservoir. They are named after the 1842 Rancho Las Uvas Mexican land grant. "Uvas" is the Spanish word for grapes, and refers to the abundance of wild grapes (Vitis californica) that could once be found by the area's main watercourses. The peace and quiet, cool fresh slightly damp air, calming waterways, and lush forest make this park's 1,133 acres a delight to explore.
