7 Places In New York Where You Can Hang Out With Adorable Scottish Highland Cows In 2026
New York farms are giving animal lovers a very good reason to plan slower, softer outings in 2026.
Scottish Highland cows have become impossible to resist, with shaggy coats, gentle faces, curved horns, and the calm confidence of animals that know exactly how charming they are.
Across the state, farms, sanctuaries, and countryside stays now offer chances to meet them up close, take photos, learn about their care, and spend time around animals that make stress feel strangely far away. These visits are not just cute photo stops, either.
Many support working farms, rescue efforts, local agriculture, and family-run places that love sharing their animals with respectful guests.
From the Hudson Valley to Long Island and beyond, these eight New York Highland cow experiences prove a simple farm visit can feel surprisingly memorable.
1. June Farms
June Farms is what happens when someone decides to do farming with their whole heart. Sitting on a sprawling property at 275 Parker Road in West Sand Lake, this Upper Hudson Valley gem is known as a gentleman’s farm, and it lives up to that title with serious style.
Heritage breeds roam freely here, and the Scottish Highland cows are among the biggest draws on the property.
Daily farm walks are available year-round, giving guests the chance to stroll through the pastures and visit with the animals at a relaxed pace. There is no rush, no loud tour guide with a microphone, just you, the open air, and some of the most photogenic cows on the planet.
The Highland cows here carry themselves with a certain quiet dignity that is oddly inspiring.
During the main season from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the farm is open to the public regularly. Outside of that window, June Farms hosts special ticketed events that draw visitors back again and again.
People plan their calendars around those events, and once you visit, you will understand exactly why.
The farm also puts a strong emphasis on responsible, humane animal care. Every animal on the property is raised with intention and respect, which comes through in how calm and approachable the Highland cows are.
They are not skittish or standoffish at all.
New York has no shortage of beautiful destinations, but June Farms offers something genuinely rare. It is the kind of place where you arrive as a visitor and leave feeling like you just spent the afternoon with old friends who happen to have excellent hair.
2. Elk Ravine Farm
Elk Ravine Farm is the kind of place that makes you question why you ever spent a weekend doing anything else.
Tucked into the rolling hills of northern Dutchess County, this farm offers private two-hour tours that are genuinely unlike anything you have experienced before.
You get to pet, brush, and yes, actually cuddle Scottish Highland calves. That is not a drill.
The farm runs tours seven days a week by appointment only, with time slots at 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, and 3:00 PM.
It sits about two hours from New York City, which makes it a very doable day trip even for the most schedule-obsessed city dweller.
The drive through Amenia alone is worth it.
What sets Elk Ravine apart is its commitment to the animals themselves. The Highland cattle here are part of an active grazing program that supports environmental preservation on the land.
None of the animals are raised for meat, which means every cow you meet there has a full, happy life ahead of them.
Booking in advance is a must since spots fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Groups tend to be small, so the experience feels personal and unhurried rather than like a crowded zoo visit.
Kids absolutely adore it, but honestly, adults tend to lose their minds over the calves just as fast.
If you are the kind of person who has ever said “I just want to hug a cow,” Elk Ravine Farm on Route 343 in Amenia, New York is where that dream becomes a very real, very fluffy reality. Go ahead and book it.
3. Harbes Family Farm — 715 Sound Ave, Mattituck, NY 11952
Long Island does not always get credit for its farm experiences, but Harbes Family Farm on the North Fork is here to change that narrative entirely.
At 715 Sound Ave in Mattituck, this beloved family farm offers something called the Mini Highland Cow Encounter, and the name alone should tell you everything you need to know about how adorable this experience is going to be.
The encounter must be booked in advance, with available time slots running from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Pricing comes in at thirty dollars per adult and twenty dollars per child, with up to six people allowed per slot.
It is a small-group setup by design, which means you actually get quality time with the cows rather than jostling for position in a crowd.
Harbes has been a staple of Long Island’s agricultural community for decades, and the farm has a warmth to it that you feel the moment you arrive. The Highland cows here are small but mighty in personality.
They are curious, expressive, and surprisingly interactive, which makes the encounter feel more like a conversation than a zoo visit.
The farm also offers seasonal events, a market, and other agricultural experiences throughout the year. So even if you come primarily for the Highland cow encounter, you will likely find yourself wandering around and discovering other reasons to stay a little longer.
That is just how Harbes works on you.
For anyone on Long Island or visiting the North Fork wine region, adding this stop to your day is a no-brainer. It is the kind of joyful, grounding experience that reminds you what a great day actually feels like.
4. Hidden Valley Animal Adventure
Hidden Valley Animal Adventure is the kind of place that makes you feel like you accidentally drove into a nature documentary, and honestly, that is a compliment of the highest order.
Found at 2887 Royce Road in Varysburg, Wyoming County, this attraction brings together an impressive variety of animals in one sprawling, open setting.
The Scottish Highland cattle here are fan favorites for very obvious reasons.
Visitors have two ways to experience the animals. You can hop on a guided safari bus tour and let someone else do the navigating, or you can take the self-drive-thru route and go at your own pace.
Either way, you end up face to face with Highland cows who seem completely unbothered by your excitement. They are cool like that.
The Highlanders at Hidden Valley are known for their relaxed and approachable personalities. They will often walk right up to the vehicle, which means you get an extremely close look at those legendary long horns and that gloriously shaggy coat.
Keep your camera ready because the photo opportunities are absolutely wild.
Hidden Valley is also great for families with kids of different ages since there is enough variety across the property to keep everyone engaged for hours. It never feels like just a cow farm because the diversity of animals makes every turn feel like a new discovery.
That said, the Highland cows consistently steal the show.
If you are road-tripping through western New York and wondering what to add to your itinerary, Hidden Valley Animal Adventure deserves a serious spot on that list.
It delivers genuine wow moments that are hard to replicate anywhere else in the state.
5. Queens Zoo — 53-51 111th St, Corona, NY 11368
Right in the middle of New York City, the Queens Zoo is quietly doing something that most people completely overlook.
At 53-51 111th Street in Corona, Queens, this compact but well-curated zoo is home to a rotating cast of North American animals, and Scottish Highland cows have made appearances here that have genuinely surprised visitors who were just expecting pigeons and maybe a goat.
The Queens Zoo is run by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the same organization behind the Bronx Zoo and Central Park Zoo. That pedigree matters because it means the animals here receive top-tier care in thoughtfully designed habitats.
The Highland cow exhibit fits right into the farm-animal section of the zoo, which is especially popular with younger visitors.
What makes the Queens Zoo particularly special is its accessibility. It is reachable by subway, which is something almost no other Highland cow experience in the state can claim.
You do not need a car, a long drive, or a packed lunch to get your Highland cow fix. Just hop on the 7 train and go.
The zoo is surrounded by Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, so you can easily extend your visit into a full afternoon outdoors.
Admission is affordable compared to many other New York City attractions, making it a smart choice for families working with a budget.
It punches well above its weight in terms of what it delivers.
For city folks who feel like a farm upstate is just a little too far on a random Tuesday, the Queens Zoo is a genuinely fantastic alternative.
Sometimes the most unexpected places hold the most delightful surprises, and this is absolutely one of them.
6. Kelder’s Farm — 5755 US-209, Kerhonkson, NY 12446
Kelder’s Farm in Kerhonkson has been welcoming visitors for years, and it has built a loyal following for good reason.
At 5755 US-209 in the Hudson Valley foothills, this family-run farm balances agricultural authenticity with the kind of fun that keeps people coming back every season.
The Scottish Highland cows here are a relatively newer addition, but they have already become one of the farm’s most talked-about attractions.
The farm is known for its relaxed, open-access approach. You do not always need a timed ticket or a formal tour to enjoy what Kelder’s has to offer.
Many visitors simply show up, walk the grounds, and find themselves face to face with a Highland cow who looks like it just stepped out of a fairy tale. The horns, the hair, the calm eyes, it is a lot to process in the best possible way.
Kelder’s also features a farm stand, a giant jumping pillow, and seasonal activities that make it a full-day destination for families.
The Highland cows share the property with other farm animals, so the overall experience has a classic, old-school farm energy that feels refreshingly grounded.
No frills, just real farm life.
The Kerhonkson area is a popular destination in the Catskill region, and Kelder’s fits naturally into a weekend itinerary that might also include hiking or exploring the nearby Shawangunk Ridge.
It is a working farm with genuine personality, not a manufactured attraction designed to impress on Instagram.
Kelder’s Farm is proof that you do not need a fancy setup to create a memorable experience. Sometimes a cow with extraordinary hair is more than enough to make your whole weekend.
7. Farm Sanctuary — 3136 Aikens Rd, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen is not just a place to see animals. It is a place that will genuinely shift how you think about them.
At 3136 Aikens Road in the Finger Lakes region of New York, this nationally recognized sanctuary has been rescuing and rehabilitating farm animals since 1986. The Scottish Highland cows here arrive as rescues, which means every single one of them has a story worth knowing.
Tours of the sanctuary are available and allow visitors to walk through the barns and pastures while learning about the individual animals and their backgrounds. The Highland cows tend to be especially memorable because of their calm and observant personalities.
They watch you with an intelligence that is genuinely hard to ignore.
Farm Sanctuary operates with a clear mission around animal rights and advocacy, so a visit here carries a little more weight than a typical farm outing. That said, it never feels preachy or uncomfortable.
The focus stays on the animals themselves, and the animals do a remarkable job of telling their own stories just by existing so peacefully.
The Watkins Glen location is surrounded by some of the most stunning scenery in the state. After your sanctuary visit, you are a short drive from Watkins Glen State Park, which features dramatic gorges and waterfalls that pair beautifully with a reflective afternoon.
It is a full day of good things.
Farm Sanctuary is where compassion meets agriculture in the most meaningful way possible. You leave with a full heart, a new appreciation for these extraordinary animals, and probably a few dozen photos of a Highland cow that you will be showing people for months.