Hiram M. Chittenden Locks (Ballard Locks)

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, commonly called the Ballard Locks, are a working canal lock complex at 3015 Northwest 54th Street in the Ballard neighbourhood of Seattle, Washington. Operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers, they connect the freshwater of Lake Washington and Lake Union to the saltwater of Puget Sound through the Lake Washington Ship Canal. Visitors can stand beside the lock chambers and watch a steady stream of vessels, from kayaks and pleasure boats to fishing boats and larger commercial craft, rise or drop as the water levels change. The complex includes a visitor centre with exhibits on the canal's history, and a fish ladder with underwater viewing windows, where visitors can see migrating salmon and other fish pass from the saltwater to freshwater. Salmon runs are strongest from roughly late June to early September, though other species appear in different seasons. Behind the locks, the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden covers about seven acres of landscaped grounds with plants from around the world, and it is free to enter. The grounds are open daily from about 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, though visitor centre and fish ladder hours are shorter, so confirm times with the Corps. A visit typically takes one to two hours. Crowds are heaviest on summer weekends and when salmon are running; weekday mornings are quieter. Admission is free. King County Metro Route 40 and the RapidRide D Line serve Ballard, followed by a 10-minute walk, and parking is limited. Free guided tours are sometimes offered. Photographers will find good vantage points along the walkways above the lock chambers, particularly when large boats pass through.