Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks

The north side and south side of the canal are connected via walking. The parking lot on the south side is free. The visitor center on the north side is highly recommended. It's hard to believe the masterpiece was completed in 1917. During summer time, there are many locks event and you shouldn't wait too long. The water leveling and lock opening process take around 10 minutes. If you are lucky to see a tall boat passing, you will see the railroad bridge open up.

Great spot to watch little or big boats go through the locks between Shilshole Bay and Lake Union. It's a fabulous local place to bring out-of-town guests. The grounds are nice to just sit on the grass during the summer. There is a visitor building and a gift shop too. Nice tourist place!

Awesome views of historic and important locks that allow transit between saltwater and freshwater (sound and lake Washington). Efficient - takes about 12 minutes start to end. You can walk across the lock doors to get to magnolia/ballard. An amazing engineer employee patiently explained the system and history and what recent improvements were made to a boy who was fascinated. And of course the seals are fun to watch in the spillway - a must visit and free of charge

A perfect mix of nature, engineering, and local charm. Watching the boats pass through the locks is fascinating, and the fish ladder is a unique experience, especially during salmon season which idk when that is. Peaceful walkways, beautiful gardens, and a great spot to bring visitors. A must-see in the Seattle area!

Really nice spot to walk around and watch the boats! I love visiting in July-September since the fish ladder is always full of salmon then. You can frequently spot sea lions in the waters too. They have a cute museum as well with a miniature display of the locks

April 2025, we visited the Ballard Locks. We parked at Commodore Park and enjoyed a lovely walk to the dam and fish ladder. We watched the Cormorants and Loons dive for fish as the Seagulls cried out. The sound of the water was so relaxing and peaceful. The Cranes are nesting this time of year, so it was interesting watching their nests and listening to their cries as they sit high in the treetops. The Cherry Trees are in bloom this time of year which adds so much beauty.

The locks are interesting. There is a sister center that has info on the locks how they work and info on its history. The Carl english Botanical gardens has beautiful flowers and a wide variety of trees local and from around the world. The locks alow recreational and commercial marine traffic to come from lake Washington and lake union and Fishermans Terminal to go out out to Puget sound. The sound side of the locks offer views of seas andl sealions, birds and boats.

This is the real entrance of the locks! I used to come here when I was a kid and tons of salmons used to swim upstream to Canada. Now that I have kids of my own , I bring my kids here to see the locks. Unfortunately, we came at the wrong season , there wasn’t any salmon swimming at all . Come during the summer time , July and August used to be the best time of the year u can see at least a foot long salmon. This is always an educational spot for the kids when I’m visiting Seattle.

The Ballard Locks are one of my favorite pastimes. I love watching the sailboats and yachts pass through, complete with some minor bumps and occasional shouting. It's also fun to see seals and salmon--just be prepared to explain the food chain to your kids if a seal catches a salmon and birds swoop in to grab some leftovers! I often commute across the locks to get to Magnolia, and while there's some construction in the area right now, it's not too disruptive. It'll be nice when it's all finished and cleared up. There are plenty of lovely seating areas on both sides, making it a great spot to relax. Definitely a must-see attraction if you're visiting Ballard.

I'm glad to see that they have made many updates to the fish ladder, including touchscreen displays to help identify the types of salmon currently migrating. There were so many signs and informational displays, including one that flanked a fish counter (someone who visually counts the migrating fish to determine how healthy the population is) to show that scientific research is actively being conducted. It's a great way for kids and adults to see that science can be accessible. Just right outside the fish ladder were several pinnipeds hoping for an easy meal- one of them got quite a substantial fish. The locks themselves were busy with boat and human traffic, and yet there were several staff members taking the time to field questions from interested bystanders. I could easily spend hours here.

It was a beautiful sunny day to visit Hiram Chittenden Locks, or Ballard Locks. This turns out to be the "Busiest locking system in the Nation." [From the internet] The Hiram M. Crittenden Locks (locally known as the Ballard Locks) is a waterway system that connects the saltwater of the Puget Sound to the fresh water of the Ship Canal, which sits about 20 feet above sea level. Boats enter the Locks, the gates close, and the water rises or falls to the level of the destination waterway." Watching boats pass through the Locks, the tour, watching the salmon swimming and jumping, seeing salmon in the fish ladder, and just spending a day to enjoy the weather was very pleasant!

This is a unique attraction that is advertised as touristy, but in reality I think it does not receive that many visitors. My friends from Seattle informed me it is not that popular. I like that it is free to visit. I didn't get to see the ship locks in action, which is probably the coolest part of visiting the locks. I saw the boats lining up, and I wasn't sure if they would open the locks at a scheduled time, or if there had to be a minimum number of boats for them to open the locks. There wasn't really any signage about it, but there were signs about other facts. The visitor center is really small, but it has good educational information and a short film. There is a botanical garden you can walk through, which is really nice but also kind of random. I sadly did not see any salmon in the Fish Ladder except for one lost fish swimming on its own as I believe was not salmon season. I was so excited to see the fish. This definitely seems like a big highlight of the locks, so I'll be back to see the fish when the time is right.

Such a cool place to visit! I went especially for the fish ladder to check out the salmon. They have lots of great information there about their lifecycle. It's also interesting to see the boats progress through the locks.

Late August we took a hike and ended up at the Ballard Locks. My son lives close by so he has been here many times but said this was the first time he saw the salmon in the underwater exhibit. It you wanted to be educated, there are lots of signs and things to do. We just wanted to stroll and walk around. Out in the water, we saw a ?sea otter popping its head up here and there. Very pleasant place to spend some time.

It's so cool to see how they changed the water level up and down for vessels passing. There's a fish ladder beside, it's very informative for those who interested to know the life cycle of salmon.

Welcome to the Ballard locks!! This is one of the busiest locks in the country and you can tell when you're here - lots of traffic going in and out of the bay, thankfully they can load a bunch of smaller boats in at one time! This place is very, very popular with the locals and tourists so if you're coming on the weekend expect it to be very busy, especially if the weather is good. Also be warned that a lot of parents bring their giant strollers with no regards for other people so be prepared to be stuck behind slow moving people frequently (parents, please stop doing this. Seriously). Great place to walk and get some fresh air. One side has the garden and the other has a little park and the fish ladder. The ladder is very nicely built up and comes complete with stadium seating so you can watch the salmon do their thing. If you're interested in boating this is also a good place to find other enthusiasts. The employees are friendly and it's easy to find people on their boat waiting in the locks that are happy to chat during the transition.

So cool to get up close and personal with the locks. We had an hour or two to kill so decided to stop by and check out what all the rage was about. So glad that we did. We got free parking in the south lot and first visited the underground fish ladder. Unfortunately there were no fish in April, but I'd love to come back to see them when in season. We then walked across the locks, watching as the gates opened and closed for a bunch of boats. We stopped at the visitors center to watch a movie, and then we walked around the pretty botanical garden. It was a blue sky day and we had a lot of fun.

This place is the coolest!!!!! You get to see salmon as they are passing through the area. It is just a really special and informative place. Seals and sea lions frequent the area. Swimming and splashing and being cute. I highly recommend if you are in Seattle.

If you are looking for something free to do put this on your list. There is a big parking area at the front. The entrance to the park is beautiful. The walk to the locks is short. You can watch the boats going through the locks. It's quite fascinating. Afterwards head down to the underwater exhibit under the locks. There is educational videos and lots of underwater fish. The park has paved walkways so it was quite enjoyable going for a walk after we saw the locks. The main information building was closed when we were there.

What a gem in Seattle! From the gardens and water views to the bridges and fish ladder, lots of cool things to see - all for free! Make sure to keep an eye out for seals!

The Locks experience the highest boat traffic in the U.S. You can also observe the fish ladder here. This site offers an educational opportunity to understand the functioning of the locks and the migration of salmon. You can learn about three types of salmon: Sockeye, Chinook, and Coho. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, recommended salmon viewing times are as follows: - Sockeye: June to October (best in July) - Chinook: July to November (best in the last two weeks of August) - Coho: August to November (best in the last two weeks of September) I highly recommend visiting this place at least once. The visitor center provides a wealth of informational pamphlets.

Free admission (paid parking outside though). We came when there was a big remodeling project so we didn't get to see any fish, but it was cool seeing the locks open and close for the boats to pass through. Great for a quick visit and I'm hoping to be back during the right season when we can see salmon!

Such a cool, free activity! It's amazing how this works. Anyone can watch the reservoirs as they fill or release with water to allow the boats to pass through. We went on a Saturday and didn't have to wait long at all to see this in action. The salmon were not visible, though, end of December. Be prepared to wait a while if you view from the opposite side of the parking area, as you will get stuck until they open up the walkways again.

** Spring Flashback ** The Locks are a true spectacle of engineering that allow boats to move between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the freshwater of Salmon Bay. I found it fascinating how the water levels between the two bodies vary throughout the day depending on the tide. That's where the Locks come in handy! Each time a boat or ship needs to cross from the Puget Sound to Salmon Bay or vice versa, the Locks equalize the water levels so that the vessels can pass through with ease. During my visit, I spotted several family recreational boats going by and even an Alaskan fishing ship. Once you hear the ringing alarm, watch over the gates to see the Locks in action! Other than this being the main attraction, there's also a botanical garden, salmon run (with underground viewing area) and the potential to see some seals basking in the sun. Unfortunately, it seems that we didn't choose the best time of year to visit since there was not much blooming in the garden, no salmon at the salmon run and no seals. (Quick tip that the salmon migrate between the months of June - September) Nevertheless, I still had a great time exploring and enjoying the Seattle sun. For history buffs or those who would like to learn more about the Locks, enter the Visitor Center to browse the exhibits and artifacts on display. They even offer free guided tours! Just check their website for the schedule. There are a couple options for parking. If you arrive early enough or get lucky during the day, there's a relatively small lot of free parking on the south side near Commodore Park. We arrived around 10:00AM and snagged one of the last three spots. From there, it's a bit of a walk along the waterway to the Locks, but it's easy on a nice day and will save you a few bucks. Otherwise, there is metered parking on the north side near the Carl S. English Garden. This is apparently the busiest locking system in the nation, so it's worth seeing what it's all about!

I had never seen or been to an actual lock, so this was a totally new experience for me. Parking and entrance is free, but be aware it can get crowded. Amble over to the actual locks and take in the boats (of all sizes) waiting to go through, along with the seals looking for an easy target - as this is also used to help the salmon migrate from fresh to salt water (and vice-versa). If you're lucky, you'll get to see them jump over the lock steps! A viewing area is available where you can see the salmon swim and (hopefully) jump. Some days there are more salmon than others, so don't be disappointed if you only get to see a few while in that viewing area underground. This is why the seals hang out here, because for them it's literally like shooting fish in a barrel. The salmon are everywhere! A great spot, especially on a clear day. Hit this place up and be pleasantly surprised at the sights and how much you learn - along with the marvel of engineering displayed here. A real treat.

If you're visiting Seattle (or even live in Seattle), definitely check this place out. It's a free attraction where you can see different types of salmon (depending on the season) as well as how they move boats from one side to the other. You can easily spend over an hour here, which we did. You can see the fish from above on the bridge but also from an underground path that has glass windows where you can see the salmon much closer. They also have information around and play videos about the history too. A fun activity was watching them raise and lower the water level to move the different boats and yachts. They do this so reduce the amount of saltwater that enters to the other side, which is fresh water. Even on a weekday afternoon, there were plenty of other people also standing around with us. If you're lucky, you might also spot a seal! We saw one swimming around the locks and chasing the salmon.

Free and working engineering marvel, fish ladder, historical museum, and English garden, all in one quick stop. This overlooked tourist spot has a little something for everyone, though it's probably more apropos for history buffs and engineering gearheads. When fish are migrating up the fish ladder, this place should be really special. A ranger was on duty to talk about fish migration. Too bad midsummer isn't migration time. Plenty of parking on both sides of the lock/river. And operations wherein watercraft pass through the locks are frequent enough (many times daily) such that you might see the actual procedure on any given visit. Be aware that foot traffic (gangways on top of the locks) are closed when boats, barges, etc. are moved thru the locks and depending on the size of the watercraft, it can take some time (such that you won't be able to reach your car!). On site is a large English garden for strolling and a small gift shop (in the museum) for souvenirs.

Really had no idea what to expect. If you are visiting the area and thinking of visiting. Go. If you are a local. Go often. Paid parking is available near the entrance and a bit along the road. As soon as your enter you are immediately in a garden. A 'Little Free Library' is available at the entrance where you can leave and/or take a book. Follow the path straight to the information center where there is a gift shop, rest rooms and a small informational hall on the 2nd level. Definitely worth a visit. Continue along the path to the lock. We arrived as two large vessels were moving through the locks and we had the opportunity to see the waters rise, the gates open, and the boats moving on. Quite a crowd. The fish ladders were not active during our visit but there appears to be a viewing window to see the salmon in season which sounds very interesting. There is a pathway along the canal on several levels to walk and enjoy the gardens as well as a small parking area on the far side of the canal. There is a good sized garden, public rest rooms and walking paths on the side of the canal where the info center is located. This is a lovely, well planned garden and a wedding party was on property have photos taken during our visit. With the canal, fish ladder and gardens on both sides of the canal, this is definitely a nice spot to stop and enjoy.

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks is supposedly the biggest and most frequently used locks on the West Coast. It uses something called parallel dual-sized lock chambers for water conservation and preventive measures to reduce saltwater intrusion into Lake Washington which is fresh water. The Locks which itself a sight is in between a park once crossed and a nice garden which has preserved and tended trees and plants. Coming to the Locks is a popular tourist spot and I suppose for locals too, as on a particularly nice day it can be a very nice outing as there is not fee for anything. Perhaps for purchases from the visitor's center? Beyond this you're free to come and go. There are places to eat not too far outside of the park and it can be an ok place to picnic. One of the draws to 'The Locks' is the opportunity to watch migrating salmon through underwater glass windows. You may get a chance to see other wildlife such as seals and of course frequent animal residents like squirrels and seagulls. There is info in and around the park to learn about the importance and history of the locks which is also nice. So if you're in the area, bring yourself, the family, the dog to the 'Locks' for a day out.

Amazing time to watch the salmon migrate to spawn, great views of the ladders and underwater windows to watch all the action, lots of salmon at this time, Coho, Chinook, and Sockeye. Information and signage throughout, fun to see for adults and kids. Also fun to watch the boats going through the docks. Short walking distance to lots of restaurants and breweries too! August and September are the best times to see the salmon, come soon!! SYOY and Yelping on.

As the description states, "site for viewing boat traffic (over 40,000) vessels per year. Salmon migration viewing in the fish ladder windows (June through Sept). Visitor center/museum showing movies. Vessels enter from the fresh water side . . . disappear as the water level drops . . . then leave into Puget Sound salt water ! Or, . . the other way. Seals, birds, fish, and more.

I'm so glad I added a visit to Ballard Locks to our vacation itinerary, while in Seattle. (September 2021) It really is a cool & free thing to do for all ages & just know that when visiting Hiram M. Chittenden Locks aka Ballard Locks, it is SO MUCH MORE than just seeing the boats going through the locks. Since sharing is caring, here is some helpful info on all that extra goodness. EXTRA GOODNESS: *Botanical Garden~The Carl S. English Gardens is a shared location w/ Ballard Locks & you have to walk through the gardens when making your way to the Ballard Locks. The grounds are very beautiful! Huge trees & flowers/plants surrounding you & there's also a grassy & lush open area, shaded by trees where you can sit, relax, & have a picnic, if you wanted to. This botanical garden for sure is the perfect photo backdrop. *Fish Ladder Viewing Room~This is a lower level viewing room where you can observe the migrating salmon swimming upstream. I really enjoyed seeing all the salmon so up close & personal. * Visitor Center~open to the public that has an interactive history presentation of the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (located on the 2nd floor). Restrooms are also here. * Seals! Yep, super cute seals just swimming around the locks. Turns out that salmon "a' la mode" is one of their favorite dishes ;). *gift shop w/ inexpensive souvenirs for purchase *and of course, standing on the impressive observation platform/bridge overlooking the locks & boats. Lastly, there are a few benches located on the sides & we did have to pay for parking using the parking meter. Stay awesome Ballard Locks, till next time! ~Rebecca out

Love this spot! Here, you can see salmon swimming upstream, seals catching salmon, and possibly other wildlife, too. Parking is ample, and it's a nice place to unwind :) P.s. you can get decent fall foliage pics here, too!

One of THE coolest and best experiences I had in Seattle. What a great way to start off your day outdoors. The weather was beautiful and sunny and offered up some amazing views. I got to see a railroad bridge that doubled as a lift bridge, which was truly a sight to see. I was lucky enough to see it in action and was blown away. I have never seen anything like it as we don't have bridges like this in Colorado. I won't go into too much detail, but the technology and system that they use is next level. They have a system that separates fresh water from salt water and it was incredible to watch. Explaining it is nothing, you have to see it for yourself. Sadly, the fish ladder was closed for renovations and we couldn't go "below deck" to see any of the fish in the water. However, it just means that I have a reason to come back to the Ballard Locks! Also had the chance to talk with one of the people who works the Chittenden Locks and what a great guy. He was very informative and loved his job. Overall, a super cool experience and I would recommend visiting the locks if you're in Seattle.

Great place to just hang out, relax, and watch the boats go by. The locks are an interesting mechanism that allows boats to travel across different water levels. There is also a small botanical garden at the locks that are great for a relaxing stroll to enjoy nature, scenery and escape the bustle of the city.

One of my favorite spots in the Seattle area. Beautiful grounds and love watching ships come in and out of the locks. There's also a fish viewing area where you can see the salmon hang out on their journey. Best of all, this place is free! If you're able to do one of the tours that takes you into the locks, you'll get a cool perspective and see firsthand how they work.

This was a very interesting stop on our vacation. It was a little but off the beaten track, but the information presented was fascinating. We watched some salmon jumping up the levels of the fish ladder. Then you can go inside and see them chilling out in a tank as they adjust to the fresh water before continuing their journey. I only wish my grandson had been along.

There are so many city attractions in the Seattle area, it was nice to find some different. And free. You can walk up to the locks and watch them raise and lower the water level to let everything from output boats to fancy yachts in and out of the lake. You can also stroll over and watch the little salmon as they head up the ladders. Sea lions, seals and a million busy seagulls hang out there too. A highlight for me was a close up glimpse of a great blue heron- they are majestic and magnificent.

As a lover of photography this place has a smorgasbord of subjects! We did get to see the locks and bridge actually function too! Located on the grounds is a gorgeous garden that is definitely worth a trip by itself to go see in person. The rose garden was stunning!!!!

This is a lovely area to sit and enjoy the season. It's pretty popular to spot some seals! My friends and I kayaked into the area, kept our distance, and encountered some very curious sea creatures! It's also very interesting to see how the boats and little ships line up to go into Lake Union; you get to see the how they would evaluate the water levels to prepare the vessels. Whether you enjoy being in the water or on the grass, this is a perfect spot for various activities.

The best of Seattle everything a local and any guest would want lovely grounds fun boat watching the wild life. And seasonally love of salmon working on life cycle. So nice to stretch your legs and stand between the fresh lake and salty sound.

While visiting our friends in Seattle we went to check out the Ballard locks. The concept of the locks is really interesting (it's basically like a water elevator) and it was fun to watch the boats (and some people in kayaks!) go through. We wandered around and watched them for quite awhile. I found it to be soothing and relaxing. It's definitely not thrilling like a roller coaster ride or anything like that, but it's something you don't see every day unless you live near locks, so I thought it was cool. We also saw an osprey dive for a fish right near where we were hanging out, which made the whole experience super awesome. Not the most exciting activity, I probably wouldn't recommend it for little kids or people who are bored easily. I don't need to go back again but it was fun to see and experience.

It is an absolute must visit for out of towners and locals. Yes, it's educational as you learn about how the salt water and fresh water are separated along with going down and seeing the salmon ladder, but it's also fun and has beautiful scenery to watch. You never know what boats are coming through- sometimes it's a tour boat, and another time it's actual real life, honest to goodness fishing boats coming back home to the Fisherman's Terminal -which also is great to visit and to eat at. Walk over the dam to Commodore Park and just hang around and watch sea lions swimming, boats coming and going, along with Salmon Bay bridge opening up to let boats go through and going back down to let trains go through. Absolutely beautiful.

The Ballard Locks were super cool to see! Obviously it's unpredictable when boats will pass through, but if you hang tight you're bound to catch something! It was fascinating to see, and we were actually able to watch a fishing crew who had never been through before, so it was fun to watch their anticipation! A few steps away there are also some salmon migration windows. We were only able to see a handful of salmon, but again, coming from Chicago, getting to see the migration in real life was awesome! Definitely worth the stop for this big city girl! :)

I absolutely love Ballard Locks and have been here so many times! You'll love it here if you like history and bridges. It's such a cool place to walk, sit, and watch boats go through while you contemplate life. The view is great if you love to be by the water and you can even check out the salmon ladder. If you're not into that, they have a botanical garden that you can check out. There are multiple areas where you can set up a nice picnic blanket and just enjoy the afternoon/evening. If you're lucky, you will see seals or even a crane chilling by the water. Best part of it is all of this is free to check out! There is paid parking (free on Sundays) right outside of the Locks and I've never seen the lot full so it's pretty easy to get parking.

This is really an amazing engineering landmark. The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, affectionately known as the Ballard Locks, carry more boat traffic than any other lock in the US. It was amazing to watch the boats moving literally up and down, going upstream and downstream through the lock from Puget Sound to Salmon Bay in Lake Washington. When the locks were completed 100 years ago, they lowered the water level of Lake Washington and Lake Union by almost 9 feet which added miles of new waterfront land and reversed the flow of rivers. A fish ladder is also integrated into the construction to allow the Chinook (king), Coho (silver), and Sockeye salmon to migrate. The locks can raise both commercial and pleasure boats up to 26 feet at low tide in 10-15 minutes. The visitor center and museum is housed in the historic administrative building. The neighboring gardens are beautiful as well. If you go at 2 PM, there is a series of free summer concerts on the weekends.

I don't know how I had never heard of this place! The Ballard Locks is a national historic site that has free pedestrian entry which you can cross over the Salmon Bay. The views are different depending on the direction and are equally pretty. Many people came in the morning to watch the waterway operate and Salmon Bay Bridge open as line of boaters eagerly sailed out into the Shilshole Bay. I also loved that you can spot lots of seals splashing about near the fish ladder before happily devouring the captured salmon. During my visit I counted at least five, and spent at least thirty minutes watching them. Plenty of seagulls can be seen snatching any salmon scraps. Additional activities are offered on both ends as well. North has the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden and Ballard Locks Museum, whereas the south has the Commodore Park. Public restrooms and parking are available.

This is a great place to go for a walk, take kids, bring tourists, etc. I live in Magnolia and walk across the locks a lot to go to Ballard. Just watching the ships go through the locking mechanism (or whatever that thing is called that makes the boats go up and down) is pretty cool but beyond that they have so much more. The gardens, visitor center and fish ladder are all really fun to look at (even as someone who lives here). And they used to have concerts there before COVID (not sure if they still do). 10/10 would recommend even if it's raining because you probably will see some seals, cranes, fish, and other cool wildlife just by walking across!

It's free - how can I complain? Free tours from 2-3pm - see their website for details. You meet at the visitor center and get a little history lesson first. Then the tour guide takes you out for a tour of the place. It definitely meant a lot more than if we had just gone to see it by ourselves! However, we had zero knowledge as to what the locks were before we went, and found that the tour guide kind of assumed that we knew the basics of what the locks were. I suggest you do a quick search of what "locks" are before you go. Get some basic prior knowledge, and then get everything else from the tour guide.

An extensive space of nature, botany, hills and trees, a pathway through it all, and about the coolest water "feature" invented! The Locks have a wonderful history, of which you can learn more at the Visitors Center. Stroll along and over the Locks to the salmon ladder. Follow the ladder to an inside viewing area where salmon can be found (a couple of times each year) getting ready to spawn. Continue up and around to find a pack of blue heron and their nests high above in the trees, sea lion pups and other marine life in its habitat.

I've been wanting to visit the Ballard Locks, but haven't had the chance until recently. It was a beautiful Sunday and we made it in time to watch the draw bridge go up and the gates open for the the boats to head out to sea. The locks are similar to the one I visited in Minnesota with one exception - music. The locks in MN played the theme from 2001 Space Odyssey when the gates opened so it made the experience more dramatic :). We got to see the salmon ladder and the botanical garden. All these areas are very well maintained. Worth a visit!

This was a spectacular experience watching big and small boats, kayaks and yachts sailing through the locks. We stayed for several hours watching the salmon migrating, the marvel of the locks system and exploring the gardens. Great place for families!

I guess I was expecting something a bit more exciting? haha Being one of the things Ballard (which i love) is known for, I thought it'd be a good idea to take my parents there when they were visiting. We got to see a boat go through and how it works, which was interesting? but there's honestly nothing else to do around this particular area. We also went downstairs to see the "Salmon Ladder", mind you there weren't many salmons at the time and the glass was pretty dirty so all you saw was murky water. Take a picture with the pretty sculptures, and get yourself to downtown Ballard which is SO MUCH FUN!

This place never disappoints!! Just have to pay a couple bucks to park and go in to the locks for free!! It was a little rainy today and cool but the place was still packed with people enjoying the beautiful scenery. Always fun to watch the boats go through the locks. Saw a couple of sea lions in the water and beautiful blue heron birds flying around. Walked a little further and was able to observe the many Blueheron nests up in the trees!! Truly amazing to see!! Spent 2 1/2 hours walking around the park and watching several trains go by as they crossed over the train trestle!! Sure beats sitting home and watching TV!! I have been going to this park for about 40 years and still enjoy it every time!! Please check it out you will not be disappointed!!!

This is a fun, inexpensive, educational place to visit. You can grab a hot chocolate or latte right outside the park gate (cash only!) and then walk the gardens. Even in winter they're pretty and include signs identifying many of the trees. Cheap parking here, too. The visitor center museum (also restrooms) seemed nice but as we walked in we were told they were "going to lunch" all at the same time, so we didn't get to experience that. Who does that on a Saturday?! I docked 2 stars because it's an important part of the visit and it closes you out of restrooms- bad for families. The salmon ladder was devoid of fish this time of year but a nice (though very worn) display. A few adjustments and this would be a great place to visit.

Found this place on TripAdvisor and then came to Yelp to read the reviews. Such great reviews so we added it to our list of places to visit during our Seattle trip. I figured my husband would really enjoy it with all the boats and engineering background for this place. I'm clueless about boats and locks so it ended up being a learning experience as my husband explained to me the reason why locks are needed, etc. (I'll have to do more reading because it sounds fascinating). There's also a place you can see the fish ladder but when we came in December, there weren't any fish to observe. Apparently the best time to come in in the summer, July through November. Beautiful views here and you can walk around the park and breathe in some fresh air. I was trying to find the botanical garden but never did find it. There's a nice little visitor's center and gift shop too. As Yelpers have said, parking is "easy." We paid about $3 or so for an hour of parking. Nice place to check out!

What's not to love. The locks! Separation of sea/lake water. The salmon fish ladder. Stunning grounds!! The squirrels. So many squirrels. Baci and I love our walks here. Usually I get to see a lot of seals, which is always so exciting. And now Baci saw them too. Dog friendly, bike friendly. Picnic friendly too if you can stay seated at one spot. We love walking through the tiny bridges, the garden full of roses! And of course: the salmon at the fish ladder. It's one of the prettier places in Seattle. Paid parking lot is right outside. Close to all the food spots in Ballard. And it's just beautiful to walk in here. They do Christmas ships here in December too. Christmas cruise x Carols, hot chocolates and Santa! What's not to like. Seal encounters are a bonus!