Ballard Locks, Seattle

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One of the pleasantest ways to spend a lazy Sunday summer afternoon is at the free concerts at the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. You’ll see families, cyclists taking a break, friends picnicking, hikers, and tourists who come to gawk at the Locks.

The performances are on Sundays from 1400-1500, June to early September. The Locks and grounds themselves are open daily from 0700 – 2100. The performers represent diverse musical talents of Seattle, including jazz bands, woodwind quartets, big bands, Dixieland, swing, and Northern Indian. Typically Northwest bands include the Boeing Employees Concert Band, Microsoft Orchestra, and the West Seattle Big Band (pictured, photo #2).

Then, watch the fascinating lock activity – which is usually quite busy on a Sunday, with every size of boat imaginable being lifted up or descending the 26 feet between Puget Sound’s saltwater and the freshwater of the Ship Canal. This 90-year-old facility was built by the Army Corps of Engineers, whose Administration Building, designed in Renaissance Revival Style, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building looks out over the large lock, as line handlers tether themselves to the dock for safety, while assisting vessels to tie up alongside (photo #3).

On the far side of the Locks are the underground viewing windows for the fish ladder, which allows the salmon to leap upstream toward spawning grounds. In summer, the salmon running are Sockeye (red), Chinook (king), and Coho (silver).

The Locks are surrounded by English estate-style gardens created by Carl S. English in the 1930s. These are a great spot for picknicking, relaxing, or walking. Hikers who want more challenge (photo #4), can cross to the Magnolia side where the wild Discovery Park offers hours of hiking with stunning Puget Sound views.

If you forgot to pack a picnic, you can pick up fish-and-chips at nearby Totem House, a Seattle icon since 1948 (photo #5). Or, stock up on goodies first at the Sunday Ballard Farmer’s Market, a 0.5-mile walk (see Tip).

Also known as the Ballard Locks, it was completed in 1916 and inaugurated in 1917. The locks were built to link the waters of Puget Sound, on one hand, and Lakes Washington and Union, on the other, so that products from the hinterlands such as coal and timber could be more efficiently transported to the port of Seattle. It is named after the principal U.S. Army Corps engineer who supervised the construction.

Today, it is the busiest lock system in the United States (and the third busiest tourist attraction in Seattle) and it's a great place to get the feel for the maritime life of Seattle. On a busy summer weekend, it's a veritable maritime parade of pleasure boats, fishing boats, barges, and cargo vessels.

It's more than just a one-dimensional attraction. From early summer to fall, you can watch salmonid fishes migrate through the fish ladder from a special viewing gallery. Adjacent to the locks is the beautiful Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, which features flowering trees for all seasons. Free outdoor concerts are held on weekends during the warm seasons. A small visitor center has worthwhile displays explaining the history and the rationale for the locks, and its operation.

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All of the signs directing you here will say "Ballard Locks" and pretty much anyone you ask for directions will use the term "Ballard Locks", but the official name of this water transportation link between Lake Washington and Lake Union and Puget Sound is actually the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks.

As the name implies, the locks are located in the Ballard area of Seattle, which is north of downtown on the other side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Constructing this canal created a short link between Puget Sound and Lake Union in 1916, although the official opening was in 1917.

There are two sections of the locks: one for small craft and one for larger vessels.

One unique feature of the locks are the walkways along the top of the lock gates. These allow visitors to the facility to walk between Magnolia and Ballard, and completely around the locks area. It is possible to see the walkways on top of the locks in photo 1 and photo 3. It is a popular place for people to come and simply watch the ships go through the locks. Thanks to the walkways and fences to keep people out of harm's way, it is possible to watch the locks work in a very close setting: ships are tied and locked only feet away from the visitors.

There are parks on the north and south side of the locks: on the north side you will find the small but very attractive Carl S. English Jr., Botanical Gardens, while the south side features Commodore Park. Both parks feature grass terraces that allow visitors to view the ships and boats in the locks.

A fish ladder is located on the south side of the locks, and it is possible to go into an under-water viewing room to watch the fish pass through here. Winter months apparently see much less fish through the ladder, but I found the number of fish at pretty good levels in August.

There is an indoor visitor's center that is much less visited than watching the locks (why see static diplays about the locks when you can see the real thing?) but feature some good historical information about the locks that may be useful to keep in mind.

See also:

Ballard Locks Visitor's Center and some of its displays

My Carl English Botanical Gardens tip

My Commodore Park tip (this park is on the south side of the locks, and while maintained by the city of Seattle is basically part of the Locks complex, and provides viewing from the south side of ships entering the locks).

This is fun on a sunny day! The Ballard locks (officially Hiram M. Chittenden Locks ) allow passage of boats between Lakes Union and Washington without letting seawater from the Puget Sound into the freshwater lakes. There are two set of locks: a large one for commercial vessels and a smaller one for pleasure craft. A unique feature than will be a hit with the kids is the underwater fish ladder. When the locks were built, they blocked a natural salmon run so a series of steps were created to allow them a way around the barrier. From a window underground, you can watch adult salmon fight their way upstream to spawn and juveniles rush downstream to the ocean.

The locks area also includes lovely Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden - 1,500 type of plants spread over 7 lush acres with perfect spots for a picnic - and a Visitor Center. There's no food but The Lockspot Cafe and Totem Fish House are both just a short walk from the parking lot. There are also concerts on summer weekend afternoons. See the website for directions, hours, peak spawning seasons, event schedule and other good stuff. See this website also for more pictures:
www.myballard.com/ballard-locks-seattle/

The locks, fish ladder and gardens are free - parking is $1.50 for 3 hours.
www.myballard.com/ballard-locks-seattle/

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I've always loved watching ships. It conveys that sense of travel, departure and homecoming. The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks are found in the Ballard district, providing a channel for boats between the Puget Sound and the waters of Lake Union and Lake Washington. They were originally built in 1911 to transport coal and timber into Seattle. Anyone can stop by and watch the sailboats, motorboats, kayaks, barges and yachts of all shapes and sizes passing through the locks. The mechanism of the locks is interesting... the water pumped in to help raise the boats to the inland levels, or dropped to let them out. And they are completely free. So if you are on a kayak or a boat, feel free to make use of this to peruse the Sound (or the lakes, depending on which way you're going).

There is also a the fish ladder, built to allow salmon to migrate inland from the salt water. There are glass panels to view the fish as they navigate their way through the ladder, adjusting to different levels of salt each step of the way. It's a lot of fun to watch during the salmon run in the summertime.

Boats may use locks 24 hours a day year-round.
Grounds are open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fish ladder is open 7 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Neighborhood: Ballard

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Watch how engineering works in the old days! At the Ballard Locks, you see how the tag boats, yachts and other boats go in and out of the Puget Sound by passing through a canal that is regulated. It is amazing how the boats go up and down the canal to get into the Lake Union.

During the salmon season (April) , you will see thousands of adult salmon swim against the current to get into the fresh water to lay their eggs! There is a place to watch this! It is spectacular to see how hard it is for a single female salmon to swim against the current and sacrifice its life just to lay its eggs in the fresh water. On a clear day, you will see a lot of fish jumping at the canal.

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Formally known as the Hiram Chittenden Locks, this park also includes a salmon ladder and botanical garden.
The locks provide and connection for vessels of all sizes travelling between Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Many of the Alaskan fishing boats leave through here and its fun to talk to the crews and watch the line handlers as the boats move through the lock.
The salmon ladder provides a means for sallmon who are swimming upstream to bypass the dam and locks as they make their way back to their breeding grounds in Lake Washington. There is even a viewing window where you can watch them swim by in season.
The botanical gardens have series of paths leading through various landscapes. We were there in Autumn, so the flowers weren't in bloom but the leaves were changing and it was still quite beautiful. Grounds open daily 7-9.

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Going to the Ballard Locks is beautiful because it is surrounded with beautiful fauna! There is a collection of fuschia at the botanical garden. The lamp posts on the path to the locks are decorated with hanging plants. The different kinds of trees add to the beauty of the botanical garden!