Ballard Locks (Hiram M. Chittenden Locks)

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, known locally as the Ballard Locks, sit at the west end of Salmon Bay between Ballard and Magnolia. They were formally opened on 4 July 1917 and connect the fresh water of Lake Washington and Lake Union, via the Lake Washington Ship Canal, with the salt water of Puget Sound. They are run by the US Army Corps of Engineers, carry more boat traffic than any other lock in the country, and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The main pleasure is simply watching boats come through. There are two locks: a small one, 30 feet by 150 feet, and a large one, 80 feet by 825 feet. Kayaks, yachts, fishing boats and working vessels rise or fall several feet as the gates open and close, and you can stand right beside the chambers to watch.

Beside the locks is the fish ladder, a series of 21 weirs that lets salmon pass between salt water and fresh, with a viewing room where you can watch the fish. Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon migrate through it, and the best time to see them is from about early July to mid August. The Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden, laid out beside the locks, is a pleasant place to walk once you have seen the boats.

There is no charge to visit. The visitor centre is open Wednesday to Sunday from 1 May to 30 September, and in that period free guided tours of the locks, garden and fish ladder start at 2pm on each day it is open and last about an hour. Tours are booked through Recreation.gov, which charges a small reservation fee. The visitor centre and the fish ladder viewing room are wheelchair accessible, and a few wheelchairs are available on a first come, first served basis.

The site suits families and anyone curious about engineering, and it is free, which makes it a good budget outing. Allow an hour or two. Dogs on a lead are welcome outside but not in the visitor centre or viewing room. Stay out of restricted areas, as this is an active waterway.

The north car park next to the locks is city-owned and has limited pay parking. Old Ballard, with its cafés, bars and restaurants along Ballard Avenue, is close by, which makes it easy to add lunch or dinner.