Walking along the Rim Rock Trail in the morning not only gives you a chance to be among the stony cliffs, but it allows you to hear the chirping sounds of a songbird. Lingering at the troubled twists of rock at Cross Fissures Overlook offers you the chance to witness a soaring Red-tailed hawk and its screeching cry resonating from cliff to crag. Although they may not be marked on the map, soundscapes are great points of interest. During your visit, take in a trail sheltered by the oak brush, or sit along the river at East Portal and listen to the rush and roar of the river. Soon you will discover that complete park experiences feature both sights and sounds.
People experience soundscapes by hearing, rather than by seeing.
Soundscapes may include both mechanical and natural sounds. They may vary in their character from day to night, and from season to season. Natural soundscapes are park resources that may include the sound created by wind, flowing water, crashing waves, mammals, birds, insects, and other biological and physical components. Natural Ambient Sound Levels are the natural soundscape conditions that exist in a park in the absence of any human-produced noise. This is sometimes referred to as natural quiet .