Although it would take years to see all the wonders residing within Yosemite National Park, my adventure buddy, Ryan, and I had only 24 hours to take in as much hiking, sightseeing, eating, stargazing, and wildlife-watching as possible. Determined to pack our day with some of the park’s best — and leaving enough time to really soak everything in — we half-planned, half-winged through one of America’s favorite National Parks. Here’s a guide on how you can experience some of Yosemite in just 24 hours.
A long day of hiking leads us back to the valley, but Ryan looks at the map and we decide we have one more hike in us. As dusk approaches, we find ourselves on the short 1-mile, round-trip trail to Lower Yosemite Falls. From further back, you can only catch a glimpse of the upper falls, but the trail will pull you into the forest and right in front of the falls’ full force.