Last updated on December 20, 2023.

The Ballard Locks are a fun place to visit while in Seattle. Officially known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, they opened in 1917 and are completely free to all vessels. It’s one of the busiest lock systems in the entire country, allowing passage between Puget Sound and Lake Union and Lake Washington via Salmon Bay and the Fremont Cut.

 

Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens

The locks are accessed through the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens, open daily from 7am to 9pm at no charge. Landscape architect Carl English spent 43 years developing the gardens.

Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens in Seattle, Washington
Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens

On the grounds just past the entrance to the gardens is a small visitor center and gift shop which was closed during my visit. Continuing along the path will take you to the locks administration building, and past it are the locks.

Visitor Center at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Visitor Center
Administration building at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Administration building

 

Ballard Locks

First, we came to the larger set of locks, crossed one of the gates, and watched the water spill in to raise a barge.

A barge in the locks at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
A barge in the locks
The barge at a higher water level at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
The barge at a higher water level

Once the water level was high enough, the gates opened and the barge left the locks with the aid of a tugboat.

The gates opening at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
The gates opening
The gates opening at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
The gates opening
A tugboat pushing the barge out of the locks at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
A tugboat pushing the barge out of the locks

Next, we continued exploring the locks by walking across the smaller set of locks and then a pedestrian bridge over the spillway. We were able to look down and see the water rushing down.

Bridge over the spillway at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Bridge over the spillway
Looking down on the spillway at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Looking down on the spillway

From a point on the other side of the bridge, we could get a better look at the spillway. In the distance, we could spot a railroad bridge that we would pass over on our Amtrak ride back to Chicago.

Spillway at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Spillway
Railroad bridge at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Railroad bridge

 

Fish Ladder

Finally, we visited the fish ladder to see salmon making their way back from Puget Sound into Salmon Bay. There’s a viewing room with windows into the ladder where you can see different species of salmon. On top of the viewing room is some public art in the shape of waves.

Fish ladder viewing area at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Fish ladder viewing area
Fish ladder viewing area at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Fish ladder viewing area
Public art at the Ballard Locks in Seattle, Washington
Public art

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.