Guadalupe Reservoir, body of water
Guadalupe Reservoir is a water storage facility in the Santa Cruz Mountains in California, created by a dam completed in 1935 that holds back water from Guadalupe Creek. The site has footpaths along the shoreline and can be reached from Hicks Road, with scenic views across the surrounding hills.
Spanish explorers named the area in 1776, giving the creek a name after a Mexican saint. The dam was completed in 1935 as one of the first six water storage projects built in the region after voters approved the plan in 1934.
The reservoir takes its name from the Guadalupe Creek, which Spanish explorers named in 1776 after a Mexican saint. Today, locals use it as a quiet gathering place where people spend time outdoors and step away from city life.
Access is mainly through Hicks Road, where you can find spots with good views of the water. Bring your own food and drinks, as there are no shops or restaurants nearby, and wear appropriate footwear since the trails can be steep and slippery.
Although it functions as a water storage facility, California health officials advise against eating fish caught here. The water can contain harmful substances, especially after heavy rains, making it an ecologically fragile spot despite its calm appearance.
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