Seattle, United States

Ballard (Hiram M. Chittenden) Locks

Seattle, United States

Rating★4.7(10,001 reviews)

Address3015 NW 54th St, Seattle, WA 98107, USA

MuseumAttractionTop Rated

Waterway with opportunities for viewing salmon during the summer & park with unusual shrubs & trees.

Last updated: February 11, 2026

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Overview

Waterway with opportunities for viewing salmon during the summer & park with unusual shrubs & trees.

Opening Hours

Monday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Tuesday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Wednesday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Thursday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Friday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Saturday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Sunday

7:00 AM–9:00 PM

Visitor Reviews

**★★★★★ Girija Rajendran — 2 months ago

Ballard Locks is a wonderful place to visit. The locks help boats move between different water levels, from seawater to the lake. It’s amazing to see this engineering technology in action, and it’s explained in a way that even a common person can easily understand. Salmon naturally migrate from the sea to fresh water to lay their eggs. The salmon ladder here helps them move through different water levels on their journey. We can even watch the salmon underwater through the viewing glass. It’s fa

**★★★★★ Cyndi Markle — 3 months ago

The locks were very cool. We got to watch a tugboat come from Puget Sound into the lake via the small channel. It was quite impressive how fast the channel filled to lake level. They allow you to walk across the locks gates to get a great view of the vessels entering and exiting. The fish ladder was closed. There is a public restroom that was well maintained. Along the walk we saw a Heron roost located in the trees, there must have been 15 to 25 nest.

**★★★★★ Roger Wilhelm — 3 months ago

Was in the area and was just hoping to get a nice walk in around the locks and the adjacent arboretum. Wow…this place is surprisingly interesting! I got a better understanding of a piece of our country’s vital infrastructure and learned much about inland waterways shipping and lock operations. Arboretum is nice, too. Didn’t expect to enjoy watching lock operations as much as I did!

**★★★★★ Sofia’s Photos — 3 months ago

Such a gorgeous place for a photoshoot! I honestly didn’t expect much when I first walked in, but within a few minutes I realized how picturesque it is. Ballard Locks has so many different spots, from stone benches that look straight out of a European city to vintage-looking street lamps and lush greenery everywhere.

There’s water, bridges, beautiful plants, and even some palm trees. It’s such a unique mix of textures and colors that work perfectly for photos. Right in front of the park, there’

**★★★★★ Nan Liu — 5 months ago

This was my first time visiting a navigation lock, and it was incredible to see. On one side, the water level is high, and on the other, it's low. When a ship arrives, the lock gates close behind it, trapping the vessel inside. The enclosed area is then filled with water from the high side, which lifts the ship up to match the higher water level. Once level, the front gates open, and the ship passes through. Many tourists were taking photos as the ship slowly rose with the rising water—it's an

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