Yolyn Am (Ёлын Ам) is a valley in the middle of the Gobi Desert belongs to Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park of Southern Mongolia, 46 kms from Dalanzadgad, the central town of Umnugovi province. It is one of the Nine Wonders in Umnugovi province. The area was started to be protected as a national reservation since 1965 and became part of the national park in 1993. Even though the region, as part of the Gobi Desert sees little precipitation, Yolyn am is notable for deep ice field. Some of the rock walls are as steep as 200 meters high. Looking up from the canyon floor between those rock walls, the sky above looks like only a narrow blue band.

Throughout the gorge, there are many places with constant shade where the sun does not shine and form the ice field. The ice field reaches up to 10 meters high by the end of winter, and is several kilometers long. In past years it remained year round, but lately ice field tends to disappear by September due to climate change. A refreshing cold air flows through the canyon, reminiscent of winter in the desert hot days.

Activities: You can hike, bike, or hire a horse and ride here. From the parking lot, by horse riding or hiking is optional for the pleasant  2km path and takes about a half hour each side. Along the way, you might see ibexes and wild sheep, several species of rodents. This valley is abundant with vegetation, mammals and birds. But it is really hard to see wild sheep and ibexes among the rocks. They blend its color into the nature color and easily climb up through the cliffs.

If you like somewhat strenuous day hiking, you may ask driver to pick you up on the other side of the gorge. It is roughly 8km away, but the footing is quite slippery in places. The surrounding hills also offer opportunities for some fine, if strenuous, day hikes where more ibexes and wild sheep roam the ridge line.

The small Nature museum:

 At the gate on the main road to Yolyn Am, the  has a collection of dinosaur eggs and bones, stuffed birds and a snow leopard. Several souvenir shops and an ‘information ger’ can also be found here.

It is 165km from Yolyn Am to Khongor sand dunes.