Yolyn Am Valley, Mongolia: Ibex, Snow Leopards, and Granite Walls

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Summary: A casual stroll through a granite canyon and grassy hills to see local wildlife. 

We visited Yolyn Am in a single afternoon. Our 4×4 bounced over the mostly flat and clearly marked paths toward the center of the valley. The popular hiking spot is where you can walk through the granite canyon and take in the unique habitat home to Ibex, big-horn sheep, snow leopards, and thousands of small pica. While hiking in the region is pleasant— the likelihood of spotting much wildlife outside of the squeaky pica is low. 

Based on blogs put out by Mongolian tour companies I expected to spend a full day or two exploring the park’s boundaries…but it really isn’t necessary. Here’s what you need to know about visiting Yolyn Am Valley on your own. 

Be sure to read my full blog post with all my Mongolia Travel Tips before you dive into the details here.

A Complete Guide to Yolyn Am Valley

Yolyn Am Valley is named for the massive Bearded Vultures that live within the canyon. Literally translated, Yolyn Am means “The Gorge of the Bearded Vulture.” But for me, the four-legged inhabitants were more interesting.

Best time of Year to Visit Yolyn Am Valley 

The best time of year to visit is the same throughout Mongolia. 

Peak season = May-September. 

July- Early September is the most pleasant. Since this valley is at 2,250 meters of elevation (7,000 ft) it is quite cold most months. BUT if you want to see the Yolyn Am ice field you should visit before it melts in July.

What to Expect During Your Visit 

Yolyn Am is a super scenic stop that can be enjoyed in as little as 3 hours. After you enter the main gate, you’ll drive the 10 KM through wide valleys to the hiking point. Here you’ll have an easy stroll through grassy hills and narrow rocky canyons while you look for wildlife and enjoy the scenery. 

It’s not strenuous and you will not drive your car through the canyon. 

Horseback riding is possible rather than hiking for an additional fee. Honestly, the trail is so easy on foot and seems and little sketchy on horse so we wouldn’t recommend this option. 

There’s really no endpoint to the trail. Just walk until you’ve seen enough. 

Best Time of Day to Visit Yolyn Am Valley 

While many tours encourage mid-day visits to this canyon, we preferred a 4 pm visit. Wildlife like small mousy pica, endangered Ibex, and even the elusive Pallas Cat and Snow Leopard are most active in the mornings and evenings. You’ll have a better chance of spotting them in the early morning or sunset hours. This is also a less busy time of day for your visit. 

Just make sure you finish your hike before dark. 

I think mid-day the sun would be shining directly into the canyon which would provide nice lighting on both sides and eliminate most of the shadows — but spotting wildlife is better. 

Road Conditions Getting to Yolyn Am Valley 

For Mongolia, the roads to Yolyn Am are exceptional. We drove from Khongorin Els to Yolyn Am in about 3 hours. The portion of the road that is not paved is super straight and flat although it is totally covered in washboard. A bumpy but quick and easy ride. We stopped for lunch in Bayandalai and to re-up on supplies before heading to the valley. 

If you are coming from UB it’s all paved. Google maps says that the pavement ends at Dazd but it actually extends all the way to Yolyn Am Valley entrance as of 2023. 

Where to stay in Yolyn Am Valley 

There are tourist Ger camps everywhere outside the entrance of Yolyn Am. Prices vary wildly from ger to ger but we paid about 180,000 tugriks ($52) for 4 people in the ger camp just outside the main gate. It’s clearly visible from the road and offers hot showers and electricity 24/7. A rare treat in the desert. They also had food for an extra fee and two massive cuddly dogs roaming the camp. 

At the junction with the paved road, there was a board filled with flyers advertising nearby ger camps if you’d like to look further afield. 

Camping situation in Yolyn Am Valley 

The tent camping situation in Yolyn An is a 6/10. The problem is the rocky sandy terrain. It’s not super tent-friendly. There are some grassy knolls tucked away that you could wild camp in conceivably. Camping in Mongolia is so easy. Just find a flat comfortable piece of ground and you are good to go. 

Quick Things to Know Before You Go 

1. You’ll have to pay a 1,000 tugrik ($.30) per person entry fee.
2. The museum located at the entrance gate to the valley costs 5,000 tugriks ($1.45) per person and was underwhelming. It mostly consists of poorly done taxidermy of the local wildlife. The dinosaur exhibit was closed during our visit in August 2023. 
3. The hike has no endpoint. Basically expect to walk through the valley until your heart’s content and then hike back the way you came. Most people take about 2-3 hours or 5 miles of round-trip hiking. 
4. The Yolyn Am Ice wall is frozen until about mid-July. It would be neat to plan a visit while it was still covered in ice. 
5. The trail is simple and easy to follow. I walked it in my Tevas and did not need tennis shoes. 
6. The valley does get cold, however, and you should bring some layers as well as water and a snack. 
7. There are restrooms in the car park at the trailhead. The trailhead is about 10 km from the entrance gate and will be traversed by car. 
8. The 10 km to reach the hike is “off-road” but very easy and super well traveled. 

Yolyn Am Valley is a must-visit for most on their Mongolia trip. It is certainly one of the most heavily touristed places in the country. Fortunately, it’s easy to reach and conveniently located near many of the other popular attractions in Mongolia like Khongorin Els and the Flaming Cliffs. 

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