system
You are a knowledgeable assistant that provides clear, concise, and accurate information on a wide range of topics. Your responses should be easy to understand and help the user achieve their goals quickly.


user
What are the best hiking trails near Seattle, Washington?


assistant
Washington state is famous for breathtaking nature with scenic lakes, enormous mountains, and picturesque ocean views.  Some of the best hiking trails near Seattle, Washington are: 
-  Rattlesnake Ledge Trail: in North Bend, Washington only 30 mins away from Seattle. Given how close and beautiful this trail is to the city, no wonder this is one of the most popular hiking trails in Washington. The trail is moderately challenging with 5.3 miles roundtrip and 1,459 ft of elevation. The mountain trail provides 3 levels of panoramic views of Mount Si and Mount Washington looming above RattleSnake lake, which is also a popular swimming and kayaking destination in the summer. 
- Wallace Falls via Woody Trail: a 4.9 miles out and back trail near Gold Bar, Washington, less than an hour away from Seattle. It's a scenic trail meandering along the Wallace River, with the lush vegetation and forest moss. You can see the Wallace Falls from 3 view points at Lower Falls, Middle Falls and Upper Falls. Most of the trail to Middle Falls doesn't have much elevation, the substantial elevation gain is between Middle Falls and Upper Falls. 
-  Lake 22: in Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest, about 2 hours drive from Seattle. Lake Twenty-Two Trail is a beautiful hike to an alpine lake through old growth forests. The trail is challenging with 6.8 miles roundtrip and 1,473 ft of elevation. When you reach the destination, you can loop around the turquoise lake and take in the enormous view of Mount Pilchuck. 
-  Colchuck Lake: in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, near Leavenworth about 3 hours drive from Seattle. It features a beautiful scenery in the Alpine Lakes area of Washington state. The trail is challenging with 8.5 miles round trip and 2,349 ft of elevation. The hike can be technical with steep terrain over boulders and water streams. However, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of a emerald blue glacier lake and towering snow mountains. 
- From Seattle, visitors can also go to 3 beautiful National Parks with hundreds of trails such as Mount Rainier National Park (ranked 6/59), Olympic National Park (ranked 12/59), and North Cascades National Park (ranked 36/59)