Tar Creek (Santa Clara County)
| Tar Creek La Brea Creek | |
|---|---|
Tar Creek looking west from Union Pacific Railroad undercrossing beneath U.S. Highway 101, March 2022 | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Santa Clara County |
| City | Gilroy, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Eastern flank of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains |
| • coordinates | 36°58′38″N 121°37′03″W / 36.97722°N 121.61750°W |
| • elevation | 1,676 ft (511 m) |
| Mouth | Confluence with lower Uvas Creek, also known as Carnadero Creek |
• location | Sargent, Santa Clara County, California |
• coordinates | 36°55′48″N 121°32′30″W / 36.93000°N 121.54167°W |
• elevation | 128 ft (39 m) |
| Length | 29.5 mi (47.5 km) |
Tar Creek is an 8-mile-long (13 km) mainly southeastward-flowing stream originating on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in southern Santa Clara County, California, United States. Tar Creek flows through the Sargent Ranch, once the Rancho Juristac Mexican Land grant. It crosses under U.S. Highway 101 and about 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Gilroy, California joins lower Uvas Creek (also known as Carnadero Creek). From the Tar Creek confluence, lower Uvas Creek flows shortly south to its confluence with the Pajaro River at the Santa Clara County - San Benito County boundary.