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Ballard Locks, Seattle, WA

Photo: Unknown Photographer / US Army Corps of Engineers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingFreeFamily FavoriteLocal Gem

Ballard Locks

3015 NW 54th St · Seattle, WA

Why you should go…

The Ballard Locks, operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers and formally opened in 1917, lift and lower boats between the freshwater of Salmon Bay and the salt water of Puget Sound. You can stand beside the large and small locks as vessels pass through. Below ground, a viewing gallery looks into the 21-weir fish ladder where salmon climb upstream. The Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Gardens and a visitor center share the grounds.

  • #boat locks
  • #fish ladder
  • #salmon viewing
  • #botanical garden
  • #ballard

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Ballard Locks, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Seattle Art Museum

    $25–$50

    Downtown Seattle's encyclopedic art museum with collections spanning global cultures, plus a waterfront sculpture park.

    0.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Tours
    Date Night

    Waterways Cruises & Events

    $50+

    A family-run Seattle cruise company offering dining, brunch and event cruises on Lake Union, Lake Washington and Puget Sound.

    1.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Tours

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Woodland Park Zoo

    $25–$50

    A century-old zoo known for naturalistic habitats and a canopy-level gorilla exhibit.

    2.0 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Fremont Troll

    Free

    Climb on an 18-foot concrete troll crushing a real Volkswagen Beetle under Seattle's Aurora Bridge.

    2.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Kerry Park

    Free

    The small Queen Anne hillside park behind that postcard skyline shot of Seattle and Mount Rainier.

    3.0 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Seattle

    Free

    Official destination marketing organization providing visitor guides and trip planning for Seattle, Washington.

    4.1 mi awayMore like this