While staying in Washington for the summer, we decided to do some of the touristy things we never made time for when we were still housebound. One of those trips was to tour the Ballard Locks in Ballard, Washington.
The Ballard Locks, officially known as Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, are the busiest lock system in the United States, composed of two locks, one big and one small. Exploring the locks can be roughly split into three areas or activities. The botanical garden, the locks, and the fish ladder.
The Botanical Gardens
The easiest way to get to the locks is from the north. There is plenty of parking along NW 54th Street, as well as several small restaurants and eateries. From the parking lots, it’s a short walk to the botanical gardens. The botanical gardens host a collection of rare plants from around the world. It’s also the home of the Ballard Locks museum and gift shop. When we visited, however, the museum was closed, so we can’t speak to its quality.
The Locks
The locks themselves, while visually unremarkable, are mechanically fascinating. There are many benches and viewing areas to watch the activities, as well as bathrooms, which is always a plus. We watched several cycles as boats pulled into the open lock, got tied off, and were organized by the lock staff. The water then slowly rose or fell, depending on the direction of travel. The dance is reversed as boats cast off and continue on their way. If you’re curious about how these systems work, there are dozens of videos online that could describe the process much better than words could. The video below is from Practical Engineering and gives a great general overview of how locks, in general, work.
The Fish Ladder
One of the icons of the PNW is its salmon hatcheries. It’s one of the most, if not the most important, animals in the region both culturally and economically. The fish ladder at the Ballard Locks is unique in that it’s the only such ladder that bridges saltwater (the Puget Sound) and freshwater (Lake Washington). This is due to the unique lifestyle of salmon. They start their early life in fresh water before migrating to the ocean. Eventually, they return to fresh water to spawn at the end of their lives.
There were no historic salmon runs through the area that became the locks. However, several rivers were diverted to maintain the lake levels for the lock project. The fish ladder was installed not only to facilitate the new run but also to monitor the salmon. One of the best features of the fish ladder is the viewing gallery! Guests and scientists can come and watch the salmon work their way upstream.
When you’re in the greater Seattle area and want a low-cost way to spend an afternoon, it’s hard not to advocate for visiting the Ballard Locks.