Our Story
Established in 1871, our historic town is home to boutique shopping, delicious cuisine and unique events. Oakdale is proud to be the “Cowboy Capital of the World” and we offer our visitors a taste of the Old West. The Oakdale Saddle Club hosts the annual Oakdale Rodeo the second weekend of April. A visit to the Oakdale Cowboy Museum, located in the historic Southern Pacific Railroad depot, gives you a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who helped shape California. The museum’s collection features memorabilia from pioneering ranching families.
At the Oakdale Chocolate Festival, held annually the third weekend in May, vendors offer up an array of chocolate, food and drinks. The event features a classic car show and amusement park rides, as well as arts and crafts booths. Oakdale offers many wonderful opportunities to explore. We have a wide range of dining options and several options for a relaxing stay.
It's time to take an adventure
Fun things to do in Oakdale
Woodward Reservoir
Woodward Reservoir Regional Park is located at 14528 26-Mile Rd., a few miles north of Oakdale off Highway 120. It offers over 3,700 acres of land and 2,900 acres of reservoir for recreation and camping.
Shady Lawn Ranch Horseback riding lessons
Take riding lessons, care for horses or board your horse.
Historic Knights Ferry
Knights Ferry Recreation Area is a large, sprawling park area that is great for hiking, and picnicking, and is a great and convenient area to start your river rafting trip. The Knights Ferry Covered Bridge, spanning 330 feet, is the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi, and looks stunning against the beautiful backdrop of the Northern California foothills.
PRCA Rodeo
The Oakdale Rodeo is our biggest event of the year and always happens the 2nd weekend in April!
Raft & Kayak the Stanislaus River
Sunshine Rafting Adventures has been providing self-guided river rafting float trips on the Stanislaus River out of Knights Ferry, CA for over 30 years
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The Cowboy Museum
The Cowboy Museum Nonprofit Organization has been conserving the heritage of the American West, preserving California's cultural history, & teaching the mutual evolutions of Agriculture & the American Cowboy since 1995!
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