Oakdale: Nature, History and Art

Oakdale offers several distinct highlights for trip planning: nature education, a multi-use trail, a dog park, local history, art and seasonal events. If you’re looking for a hotel in Oakdale, you can choose where to stay based on which of these topics matter to you during your visit. When planning, it’s worth considering activities tied to specific days of the week or seasons separately.

Nature and Outdoor Activities

At the Oakdale Discovery Center, visitors of all ages can learn about nature. During the building’s opening hours, the Center lends binoculars free of charge for use in the Oakdale Nature Preserve. The loan is therefore limited to the building’s opening hours, and the binoculars are intended for use in the Preserve. The Gateway State Trail offers a different way to enjoy nature: this 18-mile multi-use trail passes through Oakdale. The distinction is useful for planning: the Discovery Center focuses on nature education and binocular loans, while the trail offers a multi-use route through Oakdale.

The Oakdale Bark Park offers a different focus. The dog park covers 4.6 acres and features a wood-chip walking trail, wooded areas and a pond. It’s free to use and no permit is required. If you’re planning to visit a dog park during your trip, its size and the features listed here help distinguish it from the multi-use route and nature education at the Discovery Center. The figures refer to different measurements: 4.6 acres is the area of the Bark Park, while 18 miles is the length of the Gateway State Trail. This makes it easier to consider the park and the multi-use trail according to their format, rather than comparing the two measurements directly. Usage rules can change; check current guidance before your visit.

History and Art

Eder Schoolhouse is an Oakdale landmark located at 4442 Hadley Avenue. This unique one-room schoolhouse was built in 1868 and is managed by the Maplewood Area Historical Society. The Discovery Center Art Gallery offers a different cultural focus, exhibiting works by local artists year-round. The offerings range from a specific historic building to an art exhibition featuring works from the region. If you’re organizing Oakdale’s cultural offerings by topic, architectural history and local art represent distinct interests.

Market and October Event

The Oakdale Farmers Market takes place on Wednesdays from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., June through October, in the west parking lot of Walton Park. The Wednesday schedule, four-hour time slot and June-to-October season are all relevant to planning.

In October, the Flashlight Pumpkin Hunt takes place on a weekday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Discovery Center. At the event, participants search for pumpkins under the starry sky in the Oakdale Nature Preserve. The program also includes refreshments, a family DJ, a bonfire, spooky entertainment and games. Unlike the Wednesday afternoon market, the Hunt is an October evening event, so the two activities require different scheduling. Check current market dates and the event date before your trip, as seasonal details can change.

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