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... More

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
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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... More

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.
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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... More

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
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The Ballard Locks is best visited on sunny summer days when not a cloud dares to sully the spotless blue sky that seems to last forever. The Ballard Locks has two parts--one side (the side with... More

The Ballard Locks is best visited on sunny summer days when not a cloud dares to sully the spotless blue sky that seems to last forever. The Ballard Locks has two parts--one side (the side with the fish ladder) is on the Magnolia Side. The side with the park is on the Ballard Side, and both sides are connected by the locks, which you can walk across via foot bridges. The locks themselves are very interesting and it's amazing how they can fit such large ships (like the Alaskan Crab ships) into such tiny spaces. Stand and watch as the boats rise or lower with the water level. The fish ladders are also interesting and allows people to see many types of salmon throughout their growth cycle. free admission and parking on both sides.
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Every time I visit my daughter & son-in-law in Seattle, I beg them to take me to the Ballard Locks. It's just a wonderful way to spend a beautiful day in Seattle. There are two sides, one side... More

Every time I visit my daughter & son-in-law in Seattle, I beg them to take me to the Ballard Locks. It's just a wonderful way to spend a beautiful day in Seattle. There are two sides, one side has a huge park in it, and the other side has the fish ladder. They're connected via a little walk way that you walk across (the actual locks) and during the summertime when there's alot of boat traffic, you can see the rangers lining the boats up in the locks and the water raises (or lowers) so that they can get from one side to the other. And not just small recreational boats either. HUGE Alaskan Crab boats can fit in those little lock things as well. I love the fish ladder but always go during the wrong time of year and can never see the HUGE salmon, just the little babies.
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THe Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (also known as the Ballard Locks) is situated half in Ballard, half in Magnolia, and is connected via the locks which have walkways connecting the two sides. The... More

THe Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (also known as the Ballard Locks) is situated half in Ballard, half in Magnolia, and is connected via the locks which have walkways connecting the two sides. The fish ladder is on the Magnolia side, and the large parkgrounds are on the Ballard side. Go when the fish are running which is generally between June and September. You'll see salmon so big they just make your mouth water (that is, if you're a fan of Salmon, which I am not). If you're lucky, you can see some otters or sea lions outside of the locks grabbing their share of tasty swimming salmon. You'll also see the salmon outside the locks as they try to get in and out. This is a very large and beautiful park and the best part is THE ENTIRE THING IS FREE!!! How many great things like this are free of charge? Not many, that's for sure! If you go during the summer, parking can be tight on the Ballard Side. Cross the ballard bridge, go into Magnolia, follow some windy roads and park on the Magnolia side. Traffic is much lighter and the parking is actually closer to the action than on the Ballard Side. Bring your camera, pack a lunch, and spend one of the few sunny SEattle days out in the open watching fish do things that they've been doing for millions of years
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I love going to the locks. I could spend hours watching the fish jump up the fish ladder, the boats go through the locks, and walking around the beautifully maintained lawns. It's not just the kind... More

I love going to the locks. I could spend hours watching the fish jump up the fish ladder, the boats go through the locks, and walking around the beautifully maintained lawns. It's not just the kind of place you go when you have visitors in town and are taking them to tourist spots - it's a place to hang out, take a picnic, get out of the busy pace of life and just watch as the boats and fish pass through.
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The Ballard Locks is a public space that has many things to offer. As a park, it is a well kept green space with lush lawns and interesting plantings. Bring a picnic and let your kids burn off... More

The Ballard Locks is a public space that has many things to offer. As a park, it is a well kept green space with lush lawns and interesting plantings. Bring a picnic and let your kids burn off some energy rolling or running down the terraced grass that slopes down to the level of the locks. The fish ladder can also be an interesting side trip, especially when the largest fish are making their way back upstream in late summer and early fall. The most important attraction at the Ballard Locks, of course, are the locks themselves - engineering marvels that transport an endless parade of boats to and from the inner lakes to the sound. You'll see some large boats, some small boats, some boats that have difficulty negotiating the procedures in the locks and it all adds up to ever-changing entertainment.
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Wow, I was totally surprised last year when we visited the locks with the neighbor kids. I expected to see the fish ladders, which were awesome, but I was blown away by the surrounding park. There... More

Wow, I was totally surprised last year when we visited the locks with the neighbor kids. I expected to see the fish ladders, which were awesome, but I was blown away by the surrounding park. There were beautifully landscaped gardens all around the locks and the walk there and back was great. The trip is better on a sunny day, but is fun no matter what. Take an afternoon there, just make sure the salmon are making their runs.
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Ballard Locks is an oddly soothing place to go. Watch the boats go up and down in the locks. Check out the salmon leaping out of the water during the runs (late summer and early fall are best),... More

Ballard Locks is an oddly soothing place to go. Watch the boats go up and down in the locks. Check out the salmon leaping out of the water during the runs (late summer and early fall are best), and the great blue heron plotting its next meal. Wander the gardens and check out the ridiculously fragrant roses and fuchsias. (Did you know they could get that big?) And go check out the salmon ladder. There's nothing like seeing dozens of spawning salmon heading into fresh water to remind you what a unique place the Pacific Northwest is. If you take a picnic and get in a nap afterwards, it could be the perfect afternoon.
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