Ballard Locks

Officially known as the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, the Ballard Locks is a popular visitor destination. Completed in 1917, the locks link Puget Sound with Lake Union and Lake Washington. The locks also feature a fish ladder, a critical link for salmon and steelhead trout traveling upstream for spawn. A viewing area allows visitors to watch the fish. Also nearby is the Carl. S English Jr. Botanical Garden and a visitor center. The area attracts more than 1 million visitors a year making it one Seattle’s top attractions.