Yol Valley National Park

Drive to Yol Valley, nestled at the heart of Zuun Saikhan Mountain of the Gobi Gurvan Saikhan Mountain range. This seven-mile valley is a lush landscape best known as a prime habitat for Yol vultures (lammergier), or bearded vultures. Lammergiers nestle atop the cliffs and when the air is warm, they fill the sky, soaring with the sun. Wonder why this valley is named for them? Simply look up, and the sheer number of vultures gliding through the sky will show you.

The Yol Valley is a wondrous place where ice formed during the winter does not melt until late June. It is a place where pikas jump from bush to bush.  These amazing little rodents are in the squirrel family and can only survive in elevations higher than 3,000 feet. Birds, from white ramped swifts to wall creepers, are plentiful in the Yol Valley, too.

Visit the small, but informative museum to learn more about the local wildlife of the Gobi region before driving 10 km/ 6.5 miles to the starting point for your hike. The narrow valley with a stream running through the center delivers a rewarding hike for outdoor enthusiasts.