Hiram M. Chittenden Locks / Ballard Locks

This is one of the best hidden secrets in Seattle, especially when the salmon are running at the end of the summer. You can see all of the salmon in the in the viewing windows trying to move their way up the ladder. A few times I have seen sea lions waiting for the fish at the bottom of the ladders. I even saw a kingfisher plucking minnows for dinner. The garden on the way in is beautiful and a great place for a picnic!

Posted 06/26/06 | Report Abuse

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This is definitely on my to do list when guests are in town. There is a fish ladder where you can see salmon jumping up through the locks, and you can often spot seals in the water. It is also fascinating to see how the locks work.

Posted 06/26/06 | Report Abuse

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to visit once or twice...just to say you've been.

You can watch the salmon climb up the ladders, and watch the boats go through the locks which transfers them from the salt water to the fresh water, and vice versa.

While interesting the first or second time, it gets boring after that.

Posted 11/24/05 | Report Abuse

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This place is unbelievable. The locks themselves are fun to watch. It's basically "water gates" that regulate the difference of water level in Lake Union (higher) and Pudget Sound (lower). The ships come in from one of the sides, then they are locked up in a pool-like structure, the water level is lowered or raised to match the level of the other (exit) gate, the exit gate is open, and the ship continues on its way. They do it for both smaller boats and bigger ships. (They have two different sizes of locks). This is very fun to watch!

Besides that, they have a botanical garden with trees from all over the world. You can get a self-guided tour brochure from the Visitor Center so that you know that trees/plants you are looking at.

They also have plenty of wild life around. We've seen a number of great blue hurons, some harbor searls, a bunch of salmon (jumping out of the water!), some other birds (don't know all of them). As far as salmon goes - they have a "salmon ladder" for them to pass through the gates, and big windows in the ladder so that you can watch them when they run (mostly late August - early September).

Parking can be problematic, but it is still free on Sundays. There is also a pay parking lot besides metered parking.

We've been there three times already, and keep coming back to see it again.

PROS: Locks, salmon ladder, wild life, botanical gardens
CONS: Parking can be problematic

Posted 11/11/05 | Report Abuse

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The Locks are where salt water and fresh water meet and all kind of water vessels pass through. It was very amazing to see the water levels go up and down right before your eyes. They have steps that the salmon jump to go to spawn. The Chittenden gardens are gorgeous, if you time your visit during the spring. They also have some huge birds that next in the garden trees. A wonderful place to learn.

PROS: Great place to take the entire family and it's free.
CONS: parking can be difficult, gotta get there early or else you park far.

Posted 11/07/05 | Report Abuse

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The Ballard Locks are just great. There is a fish ladder here so you can see the salmon coming back from the ocean and going to their fresh-water birthing grounds. It's very interesting.

There are huge park grounds which are perfect for lazing on a summer's day or havinga picnic. Bring some bread and feed the geese or sea gulls.

The most fascinating part is the locks themselves. They divide the park into the Ballard Side and the Magnolia Side, and its the way all the boats get from Lake Union into Elliott Bay, and how the big fish/crab boats from Fisherman's Terminal get out to open water. IT's very neat to see.

Highly reccomended and it's FREE FREE FREE

Posted 10/22/05 | Report Abuse

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