Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park is a 180-acre county park located at 4520 W Eight Mile Rd in northern Stockton, California, right beside the Spanos Park West neighborhood and Interstate 5. Managed by the San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Department, the park preserves one of the San Joaquin Valley’s native Valley Oak woodlands and pairs its natural habitat with a 10-acre stocked fishing lake, two 18-hole championship disc golf courses, an educational nature center, and shaded picnic grounds. Named in honor of longtime San Joaquin County Supervisor Norman Shumway, the park draws anglers, tournament disc golfers, birdwatchers, and local families looking for open-air recreation under centuries-old oak canopies.
What to Expect at Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park
The park’s focal point is the 10-acre Oak Grove Lake, bordered by mature Valley Oaks, weeping willows, and a flat perimeter walking path. Throughout the year, the lake is stocked with seasonal catfish during the warmer months and rainbow trout during the cooler autumn and winter seasons, making shoreline angling one of the park’s primary draws. Visitors also launch seasonal paddle boats onto the calm water or watch resident Canada geese, mallards, great blue herons, and double-crested cormorants along the reed-lined banks. Just off the water, the Oak Grove Nature Center and its adjacent 1.5-mile Yokuts Trail introduce visitors to the native flora, wildlife, and Indigenous Yokuts heritage of the Central Valley riparian corridor.
Away from the lakefront, expansive turf lawns and oak groves accommodate two full 18-hole disc golf courses—the Gold and Purple layouts—which serve as home turf for the Delta Windjammers Disc Golf Club and host regional PDGA tournaments. Shaded group picnic shelters, including the Boathouse Shelter, Oak Shelter, and the large Oaks Pavilion indoor-outdoor event facility, sit near individual barbecue tables and play areas. Visitors planning a family outing with young children should note that while the park features playground facilities, the Oaks Pavilion playground is currently closed for repairs.
- Oak Grove Lake: A 10-acre recreational lake stocked seasonally with rainbow trout and channel catfish, complete with shoreline fishing access and seasonal weekend paddle boat rentals.
- Gold & Purple Disc Golf Courses: Two distinct 18-hole disc golf layouts winding beneath low-hanging oak branches, offering technical shot shapes for recreational and tournament players alike.
- Oak Grove Nature Center & Yokuts Trail: An interpretive nature center operated with volunteer docents alongside a flat 1.5-mile unpaved nature loop through undisturbed Valley Oak habitat.
- Shaded Picnic Shelters & Oaks Pavilion: Reservable group picnic areas equipped with built-in charcoal grills, picnic tables, and restroom access, plus the climate-controlled Oaks Pavilion for special events.
- Lakeside Walking Path & Birdwatching: A paved, level walking loop encircling the lake and connecting picnic groves, ideal for spotting woodpeckers, hawks, egrets, and migratory waterfowl.
Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4520 W Eight Mile Rd, Stockton, CA 95209 |
| Neighborhood / Area | Spanos Park West / North Stockton |
| Operating Hours | Daily: 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM (hours adjust seasonally with daylight) |
| Admission / Price Range | Paid per-vehicle entry gate fee ($); extra state license and park permit required for fishing |
| Recommended Visit Duration | 2 to 4 hours |
| Nearest Transit / Parking | Immediate access off I-5 at Eight Mile Rd; abundant on-site surface parking lots |
| Official Website & Phone | sjparks.com | +1 209-953-8800 |
Visiting Tips, Getting There & Nearby Pairings
Arriving between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM is the smartest strategy, especially from late spring through early autumn when afternoon temperatures in the San Joaquin Valley regularly climb past 90°F. Morning hours also bring the best trout and catfish bite on Oak Grove Lake and lighter traffic on the first tees of the disc golf courses. Getting to the park by car is straightforward: take Interstate 5 to the Eight Mile Road exit in North Stockton and head west for less than half a mile to the gated park entrance. Ample paved surface parking is available adjacent to the lake, nature center, and disc golf course, and San Joaquin RTD bus routes serve the nearby Spanos Park shopping corridors east of I-5.
The park’s terrain is flat across the entire 180 acres, featuring paved pathways around the lake, accessible restroom facilities, designated accessible parking spaces, and step-free access into the Oak Grove Nature Center and picnic shelters. Dogs are welcome in the park when kept on a leash no longer than six feet (except inside the nature trail and buildings) and require a small pet entry fee at the gate. After spending the morning under the oaks, drive five minutes west along Eight Mile Road into the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta to dine on the water at Garlic Brothers or browse the docks at Village West Marina, or head 15 minutes north via Highway 99 to explore sister county park Micke Grove Regional Park, home to the Micke Grove Zoo and Japanese Garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hours for Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park and when is the best time to visit?
Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park is open daily from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM during the main spring and summer season, with closing times shifting earlier toward dusk in late autumn and winter. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures and lively foliage across the Valley Oak woodland, while summer mornings before 11:00 AM are best for beating the Central Valley heat.
Is there an entrance fee or fishing permit required at the park?
Yes, San Joaquin County Parks charges a modest per-vehicle day-use parking fee at the entrance kiosk, which varies slightly between weekdays, weekends, and holidays, along with a small fee for dogs and watercraft. Visitors planning to fish in Oak Grove Lake must carry both a valid California Department of Fish and Wildlife fishing license (for anglers 16 and older) and a daily county park fishing permit sold at the entrance gate. Current fee schedules and shelter reservation rates are posted on the official San Joaquin County Parks website.
How much time should I budget for a visit to Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park?
Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours if you are walking the lakeside loop, exploring the Yokuts Trail, and visiting the Oak Grove Nature Center. If you are playing a full 18-hole round of disc golf, fishing from the shoreline, or hosting a family barbecue at one of the picnic groves, budget 3 to 4 hours.
Is Shumway Oak Grove Regional Park wheelchair and stroller accessible?
Yes, the park sits on level valley terrain with paved parking lots, ADA-compliant restrooms, and paved walkways linking the lakefront, picnic shelters, and nature center. While the 1.5-mile Yokuts Trail and disc golf fairways traverse natural dirt and grass surfaces, they are flat and manageable for sturdy strollers and outdoor wheelchairs during dry weather.
When planning your Stockton travel guide or comparing verified attractions and parks in Stockton, pair this stop with standout local spots including El Rancho Inn | Steak & Lobster, Cast Iron Trading Co., Residence Inn Stockton, and Garrigan Park (1.5 km away).
