An "absolutely breathtaking" hiking trail that "has it all" has captivated viewers on TikTok.
A view of a woman's journey on the trail in Silverton, Colorado, was shared in a TikTok video posted @capri_and_me. The clip has had over 421,000 views since it was posted on July 25.
The hiker traveling with her dog says in the clip, "I still can't believe this place is real and that it's actually in Colorado!"
The footage shows idyllic scenes of open lush green landscapes against a mountain backdrop and a clear blue sky.
"This hike has it all," a note overlaid on the video says, including hikes through a forest, meadows of wildflowers, panoramic mountain views, multiple waterfalls as well as creek crossings, while also being dog-friendly.
Considered one of the top alpine lake hiking destinations in all of Colorado, the Ice Lake Trail leads to a high-alpine basin in the San Juan National Forest that has "a stunning, turquoise blue lake nestled beneath 13,000 foot peaks," according to the San Juan Mountains Association.
Hikers on the trail can expect to traverse two basins, each with its own ecosystem, and will be met by waterfalls, wildflowers—typically mid-July to early August—incredible rock formations, alpine tundra and spectacular snow-fed lakes.
"Due to [the] popularity of [the] Ice Lake Trail, planning ahead is necessary to minimize your impact and ensure you have the best experience once you arrive. During summer, finding parking and backcountry campsites can be very difficult and solitude near to impossible," the association warns.
The viral post comes as over 61 million people in the United States were reported to have participated in hiking activities at least once in 2023. This was the highest number recorded in the country since 2010—a growth of around 89 percent from the figure reported that year, according to data compiled by Statista, the global data firm.
Outdoor activity saw a rise following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with new and returning outdoor participants having increased by 26 percent, according to a 2022 report from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA).
In 2021, 164.2 million (54 percent) of Americans aged six and over participated in outdoor recreation at least once, "the highest number of participants on record," the OIA report said.
'Mesmerizing'
A caption shared with the viral TikTok post says, "This is the most incredible hike that I have ever done in Colorado (well, anywhere?)!"
"I was in awe from start to finish," the hiker wrote in a note overlaid on the video, adding that "while the hike itself is breathtaking, the two lakes at the end left me speechless."
The video later shows serene views of Ice Lake and Island Lake, which has been on the poster's bucket list, and their pristine turquoise blue waters.
In a later comment, the hiker said, "Ice Lake is the trail head, and you can get to Island lake from it."
TikTok users were blown away by the incredible hiking trail in the viral clip.
JannonKate3 said, "This is mesmerizing. I bet this video doesn't even do it justice!!"
Travis wrote, "omg... absolutely breathtaking" and @uniquenamejoe said, "Stunning views!"
Faith Troutman wrote, "omg so pretty!!!" and user4357499226344 said, "insanely gorgeous."
"My favorite hike of all time. Feels amazing to jump in that water after the hike up lol," said zzzJoeb | Nature.
Hope Marie said, "Silverton is my absolute favorite place in the entire state."
Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via TikTok and email. This video has not been independently verified.
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