Farm Sanctuary Webcam – Rescued Sheep in the Finger Lakes

The Farm Sanctuary Webcam looks over one of the sheep pastures at Farm Sanctuary’s shelter near Watkins Glen, New York, where rescued sheep and goats graze side by side. A large red barn with a metal roof fills the middle of the frame, smaller red barns with white roofs sit off to the left, and a weathered board fence runs into the foreground past a metal gate. Wooded hills roll away behind, showing their first fall color in early October. Explore.org, which streams the camera, notes that the sheep line up and move out to pasture as a flock, so the grass can be busy one hour and empty the next. Four more cameras on the property, covering the sheep barn, the cow barn, a pig pasture and the Wisconsin pasture, sit in the tabs on this page.

About Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary was founded in 1986 by Gene Baur and Lorri Houston to campaign against factory farming and give rescued farm animals a permanent home. Its very first rescue was a sheep named Hilda, taken from a pile of dead animals behind a stockyard, so it is fitting that sheep get two of the cameras here. The organization now runs two sanctuaries, this one in upstate New York and a second in the Los Angeles area.

The New York sanctuary covers 111 hectares (275 acres) on Aikens Road in the Town of Dix, Schuyler County, about 20 minutes’ drive west of the village of Watkins Glen. It sits on high ground at roughly 491 meters (1,611 feet) above sea level, right beside Sugar Hill State Forest, in the hills west of Seneca Lake. More than 400 rescued animals live here, among them cows, pigs, turkeys, goats, sheep, ducks and roosters.

The cameras are a partnership with explore.org and stream on its Explore Farm Life channel. The Sheep Barn camera looks out from inside the barn, past wooden pen gates, through a wide doorway onto a grassy yard crossed by a worn dirt path. The Cow Barn camera watches cows grazing and resting along a wooden and red metal fence. The Pig Pasture view crosses tall grass and yellow wildflowers toward long white-roofed barns, and the Wisconsin Pasture camera takes in a broad green field and red barns, ground shared by cows, goats, sheep and alpacas.

Weather and Climate in Watkins Glen

Watkins Glen has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The warm season runs from late May to mid September, when the average daily high tops 22 C (72 F), and July is the hottest month, with highs of 27 C (81 F) and lows of 16 C (61 F). Those figures are for the village down by Seneca Lake, and the sanctuary’s hilltop pastures can run a touch cooler. Summer brings the greenest grass on every camera and up to 15 hours and 17 minutes of daylight around June 21.

The cold season lasts from early December to mid March, with average highs below 6 C (42 F). January is the coldest month, with highs around 0 C (32 F) and lows near minus 8 C (18 F), and snow can fall from mid November until mid April. Skies are cloudier from November through May, while August is the clearest month. By December 21 daylight shrinks to about 9 hours, so the pastures are dark by late afternoon. In fall the wooded hills behind the barns turn orange and yellow, a change already starting on the ridges in early October.

Things to Do Near Farm Sanctuary

The sanctuary itself is the first stop. Guided tours last 60 to 90 minutes and need advance registration. In 2026 they run Wednesday to Sunday from June through August, and Friday to Sunday plus select weekdays in April, May, September and October. The Kitchen cafe opens Thursday to Sunday and the Sanctuary Shop on tour days, and overnight guests can book cabins or tiny houses, with a vegan breakfast and a private tour each morning. Next door in Sugar Hill State Forest, a fire tower 21 meters (68 feet) tall, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1941, stands at 639 meters (2,096 feet) about 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles) east of the sanctuary, with views of up to 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the top.

Watkins Glen State Park, about 8.6 kilometers (5.4 miles) east, is the best known walk in the area. Glen Creek drops 122 meters (400 feet) past cliffs 61 meters (200 feet) high, and the 1.6 kilometer (1 mile) Gorge Trail passes 19 waterfalls, Cavern Cascade among them, with 832 steps along the way. It usually opens in mid to late May and closes in mid to late October, while the rim trails stay open all year. Seneca Lake, whose southern end lies at Watkins Glen, runs 61 kilometers (38 miles) and reaches more than 188 meters (618 feet) deep, holding the most water of all the Finger Lakes. Racing fans can head to Watkins Glen International, about 10 kilometers (6.3 miles) southeast.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

For more animal cams and upstate views, try these next.

• Up North Cat Condo Webcam
• Elk Country Visitor Center Webcam
• Old Forge Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Farm Sanctuary located?

The New York shelter is at 3100 Aikens Road in the Town of Dix, Schuyler County, in the Finger Lakes region. It has a Watkins Glen mailing address and lies about 20 minutes’ drive west of the village.

What can you see on the Farm Sanctuary Webcam?

The main camera shows a sheep pasture with a large red barn, a board fence and wooded hills. The tabs add the inside of the sheep barn, the cow barn pasture, a pig pasture and the Wisconsin pasture.

Why can’t I see any sheep on the Farm Sanctuary Webcam?

The flock moves between the barn and the pastures, so the main camera can show an empty field for a while. Try the Sheep Barn tab, where explore.org says the sheep sleep and relax in the hay.

What animals live at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen?

More than 400 rescued farm animals, including cows, pigs, turkeys, goats, sheep, ducks and roosters. Explore.org also lists alpacas in the Wisconsin pasture.

Can you visit Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen?

Yes, from April to October with advance registration, on guided tours of 60 to 90 minutes. Overnight stays in cabins and tiny houses are also available.

What is the weather like in Watkins Glen?

July highs average 27 C (81 F) and January highs about 0 C (32 F), with lows near minus 8 C (18 F). Snow is possible from mid November to mid April.

How far is Farm Sanctuary from Watkins Glen State Park?

About 8.6 kilometers (5.4 miles) east in a straight line. The park’s Gorge Trail passes 19 waterfalls and usually opens from mid to late May until mid to late October.

Who runs the Farm Sanctuary cameras?

Farm Sanctuary and explore.org, a philanthropic live nature cam network, run them together, and they stream on the Explore Farm Life YouTube channel.

Source: Farm Sanctuary on Explore.org