Tibetan Yak Farm Near Gaylord, Michigan
Wilderness Valley Farm keeps a herd of Tibetan yaks in the woods of Otsego County, twenty minutes from downtown Gaylord. That includes Bud, a rare white yak and the first of his kind in Michigan.
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Meet Bud, The Great White Yak
Bud is a rare white Tibetan yak and the first of his kind in Michigan. Most yaks are black or deep brown. A coat like his turns up rarely enough that plenty of visitors have never seen one, and it is the first thing people notice when they walk out toward the pasture.
He is also calm about the attention. Bud will stand at the fence while a family works out what they are looking at, which is more than can be said for most animals his size. Somewhere between the coat and the temperament, he became the animal everyone leaves talking about.
If You Have Never Seen One
What Is A Tibetan Yak?
A Tibetan yak is a long-haired member of the cattle family, native to the high plateau of Central Asia. They are built for altitude and cold, which is why a herd does well through a Northern Michigan winter, and why most people in Michigan have only ever seen one in a photograph.
Built For Altitude
Yaks come from the Himalayan plateau, where the air is thin and the winters are long. Their lungs and hearts are larger than a cow's for the same body size.
A Double Coat
Two layers: long outer hair that sheds snow and rain, and a dense undercoat beneath it. It is the reason a yak is comfortable outside on a day when you are not.
Horns And Size
Both males and females grow curved horns. A full grown domestic yak is shorter than a Longhorn but heavier through the shoulder, with a distinct hump.
Calmer Than You Expect
They look imposing and behave like the opposite. Ours are used to people, which is what makes a pasture tour possible in the first place.
Three Ways To See Them
Meeting The Yaks
The yaks are part of the farm, not a separate ticket. Every way of seeing them below is included with general admission.
Pasture Tours
Ride out into the pasture to meet and hand-feed our weanling herd of Tibetan yak and Texas Longhorn cattle. This is the closest you will get to them.
Walk The Farm
Take a stroll around the property to see the yaks, Texas Longhorns, peacocks, turkeys, Call Ducks and the rest of the animals at your own pace.
Hay Wagon Rides
The tractor-pulled hay wagon runs the loop around the farm and out past the pastures, which is the easy option with a stroller-age crowd.
Before You Come
Plan Your Visit To The Yaks
Hours And Admission
| Fall season | Aug 29 to Oct 31 |
| Open | Saturdays 10am to 5pm |
| Closed | Sunday to Friday |
| Adults 14 to 59 | $15 |
| Children 3 to 13 | $10 |
| Seniors 60 and up | $10 |
| Children 2 and under | Free |
One admission covers the yaks, the reindeer, the Longhorns, the donkeys, the rides and the play areas. Food and gift shop purchases are the only extras.
Finding The Farm
6500 Nicklaus Drive
Gaylord, MI 49735
About twenty minutes west of downtown Gaylord in Otsego County, and an easy drive from Petoskey, Traverse City, Boyne City, Grayling and Alpena. Parking is on site and free. Driving directions from twelve nearby towns.
If your GPS still calls this the Wilderness Valley Golf Course, you are in the right place. The course closed years ago and the property is the farm now.
The pastures are outdoors and the ground is uneven in places, so wear closed shoes and dress for the weather.
Questions
Yak Farm Questions
Where can you see yaks in Michigan?
Wilderness Valley Farm in Gaylord keeps a herd of Tibetan yaks, including Bud, a rare white yak and the first of his kind in the state. The farm is open to the public on Saturdays, 10am to 5pm, from August 29 through October 31, then three Christmas Saturdays in December.
Can you feed the yaks?
Yes, on a pasture tour. You ride out into the pasture to meet and hand-feed the weanling herd of Tibetan yak and Texas Longhorn cattle. From the walking paths and the hay wagon you can see the herd but not feed them.
What is a Tibetan yak?
A long-haired member of the cattle family native to the high plateau of Central Asia. They have a dense double coat, larger lungs and heart than cattle of similar size, and both males and females grow curved horns. They handle cold far better than most livestock, which is why they do well in Northern Michigan.
Why is a white yak rare?
Most yaks are black or deep brown. A white coat shows up rarely enough that many people have never seen one in person, and Bud is the first of his kind in Michigan.
Are yaks dangerous?
Ours are calm and used to people, which is what makes hand-feeding on a pasture tour possible. Like any large animal they are met on the farm's terms: staff are with you, and there are simple rules about where to stand and how to offer feed.
How much does it cost to see the yaks?
General admission covers it. Adults 14 to 59 are $15, children 3 to 13 and seniors 60 and up are $10, and children 2 and under are free. There is no separate charge to see or visit the yaks.
What else is at the farm besides the yaks?
Reindeer, Texas Longhorns, mini and micro donkeys, free-roaming peacocks, turkeys and Call Ducks, plus hay wagon rides, the barrel train, a paved pedal kart track, playgrounds and the tractor tire park. There is also a different festival every Saturday of the fall season. See the full 2026 calendar.
How far is the farm from Petoskey or Traverse City?
Wilderness Valley Farm is at 6500 Nicklaus Drive, Gaylord MI 49735, about twenty minutes west of downtown Gaylord. It is under an hour from Petoskey and around an hour from Traverse City. Our directions page has routes from twelve nearby towns.
Saturdays, 10am To 5pm
Come Meet The Herd
Bud and the Tibetan yaks are twenty minutes from downtown Gaylord, and one admission covers the whole farm. Buy your tickets ahead so you can head straight through the gate.
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