Oakdale combines rodeo and ranching history with the Stanislaus River, which flows through town. When planning your visit, you can focus on different things: collections and public art, cheesemaking and the market, or outdoor activities. Recurring spring events offer another specific reason to visit. Oakdale is also a gateway via Highway 120 to Yosemite National Park and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Rodeo, Ranching, and Local History

The Oakdale Cowboy Museum includes a Rodeo Gallery and a Ranching Gallery. The Rodeo Gallery displays an extensive collection of memorabilia from local Oakdale rodeo champions. The Ranching Gallery is located in the waiting room of the Old Southern Pacific Railroad Station. The Oakdale Rodeo was founded in 1945 by local ranching and rodeo families.

The Tim Haidlen Research Room at the Oakdale Museum & History Center preserves more than 250 bound volumes of the Oakdale Leader newspaper; the collection dates back to 1884. The Oakdale Museum & History Center also recalls historic kitchen practices: wood-burning stoves, heating water, making butter, and preparing large meals. The town’s history thus extends from rodeo and ranching to newspaper collections and early kitchen work.

Mural, Cheese, and Market

The Oakdale Mural covers the entire side of a 75-foot-wide and 20-foot-high wall at 160 North Yosemite Avenue. It depicts a working cowboy, a cow with a calf, a large oak tree, and blooming almond orchards. The mural combines a scene of work with images of wildlife and landscape.

At Oakdale Cheese & Specialties, visitors can watch cheese being made. The Oakdale Morning Market gives farmers and other small-business owners a place to sell their products directly to the community. Live musicians are scheduled as part of the market program. The two offerings have different focuses: cheesemaking is at the heart of the dairy, while the market centers on direct sales by multiple vendors.

River, Trails, and Landscape

The Stanislaus River winds through Oakdale and offers opportunities for water sports. The Oakdale Recreation Area provides access to fishing ponds and hiking trails. The Orange Blossom to Oakdale float trip often ends at the Oakdale Recreation Area. You can choose between water sports on the river, hiking or fishing in the recreation area, and a float trip that often ends there.

Highway 120 connects Oakdale to destinations beyond the town: via Highway 120, it is a gateway to Yosemite National Park and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. This is a different planning focus from rodeo history, public art, and river experiences. You can therefore decide whether local attractions or access to the named scenic destinations should be the focus of your trip.

Plan for Spring Events

Oakdale holds a professional rodeo every year on the second weekend in April; the Oakdale Chocolate Festival takes place every year on the third weekend in May. The events thus offer two separate occasions to visit in spring. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the dates, check the specific event dates in advance.

Discover more destinations: Patterson, Turlock, Ceres, Newman, Modesto, Empire

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