Hiram Chittenden Locks

Locks Seattle, Washington, United States

What to expect

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, also known as the Ballard Locks, is a complex of locks located at the west end of Salmon Bay in Seattle, Washington's Lake Washington Ship Canal. The locks carry more boat traffic than any other lock in the U.S. and attract over one million visitors annually, making it one of Seattle's top tourist attractions. The construction of the locks profoundly reshaped the topography of Seattle and the surrounding area, lowering the water level of Lake Washington and Lake Union by 8.8 feet, adding miles of new waterfront land, reversing the flow of rivers, and leaving piers in the eastern half of Salmon Bay high and dry. The locks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and have been designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark

Plan your family visit to the Hiram Chittenden Locks with these blog insights 👇

8 Budget-Friendly Seattle Stops:One Day Itinerary with Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We headed to the Hiram Chittenden locks where the ships enter and it fills up or lets out water to move them from one lake/canal to another

Highlights: The kids thought it wasn’t real, so it was fun to try to explain it ✨

16 Awesome Things To Do In Seattle With Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We watched the boats pass through the Locks and saw the fish swimming upstream through the Fish Ladder

Highlights: The kids were fascinated by the boats and the fish, and learned about the fishing industry and the history of Seattle ✨

15 Totally Fun Things To Do In Seattle WIth Kids

This family's experience:

Activities: We stopped at Ballard Locks and walked along and crossed the locks

Highlights: We enjoyed seeing the engineering that raises or lowers the water to let boats through ✨