Often called the Ballard Locks, the locks provide a link for boats between the saltwater of the Puget Sound and the fresh water of Salmon Bay, Lake Union, Portage Bay and Lake Washington. The locks also contain a fish ladder, built to allow salmon to pass between fresh and salt water. Glass panels make it possible to view the fish as they navigate their way through the ladder.

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Last edited on Nov 11, 09 12:58 PM.
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Rebalyn R.

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Rebalyn R.

Nov 11, 2009

There are three attraction here that make for a fun, relaxing, and free day trip: 1) Locks 2) Salmon ladder 3) Botanical gardens. I'm not really into boats, but watching 8 million gallons of water lift a boat up 15 feet from the salt water sound to a fresh water lake is a pretty interesting sight. Also, the best time to view large salmon going up the ladder is during July, August, and September.

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Stephanie T.

Dec 19, 2009

This is a public park, where you can watch the boats traveling between Lake Washington and Puget Sound. Bring a picnic and a bottle of wine - it's a great way to spend the day. There are usually free concerts during the summer on the weekends.

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Joel O.

Jun 23, 2011

Beautiful gardens and fascinating fish latter. While the park is great and the boats continuously make their way through the locks, timing your visit with the salmon is recommended.

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