Uvas Reservoir County Park
Uvas Reservoir County Park guide map
Welcome to Uvas Reservoir County Park. This beautiful and scenic 1,017-acre park and reservoir is nestled below the Santa Cruz Mountains, just minutes from Morgan Hill and Gilroy.
Park office: (408) 779-9232
Hours and fees
For up-to-date trail closures, please call the trail hotline at (408) 355-2200 and press 3.
The park is open year-round from 8 a.m. until sunset, and the trails open at sunrise. No fees are required at any entrances.
Learn about our park
The Mutsun Ohlone Indians frequented the Uvas Reservoir area for thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans. Today's reservoir was once part of the 11,093-acre Rancho Las Uvas (meaning "Ranch of the grapes"), granted by Mexican Governor Alvarado to Lorenzo Pineda in 1842. The land later became patented under the American courts to Martin Murphy, an early Morgan Hill and Gilroy pioneer. The lush valley was used for agriculture, including plums. At the turn of the century, a woman named Minnie Kell, or "Ma Kell," ran a campground in the Uvas Creek Valley featuring a swimming hole, baseball diamond, and dance floor. The construction of the Uvas Dam and Reservoir in 1957 was part of a countywide effort by water officials to ensure adequate water supplies for the valley's growing population. Water from the reservoir is used to recharge supplies in underground aquifers, which will later be pumped from wells for residential, agricultural, and industrial uses. In 1960, the County Parks and Recreation Department began the recreational operation of the reservoir.
Activities at the park include shoreline fishing and wildlife viewing around the reservoir. There are no designated trails or picnic sites within the park. To find out more information, call (408) 779-9232.
In compliance with the requirements of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (‘ADA”), the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities on the basis of disability in its programs, services, or activities. The Department will make reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disability have an equal opportunity to enjoy our programs, services, facilities, and activities. If you need assistance with an ADA request, please contact our ADA Coordinator at [email protected].
Upcoming events
There are no upcoming events.
