Discover the fascinating maritime history of Seattle on a tour of the Ballard Locks. Watch boats lock through, observe Great Blue Herons and baby salmon, and explore Gas Works Park and the houseboat communities along Lake Union.
- Hiram M. Chittenden Locks - We will explore the Locks and learn how they work, and watch ships “lock through”. We will learn about their role in maintaining the level of Lake Washington and how they transformed Seattle’s maritime industry. We will look for smolts (baby salmon) on the spillway heading out to sea and adult salmon coming back through the fish ladder. The resident harbor seals and herons are fat and happy this time of year!
- Gas Works Park - This one of a kind park was an inspired creation that took a heavy industrial site and transformed it into one of Seattle’s favorite parks, with fabulous views across Lake Union to downtown and the Space Needle! Along the way we will learn the history of this iconic piece of old Seattle that still survives.
On our way back downtown, we will cruise by the houseboat community along Lake Union, a uniquely Seattle experience!
- Bottled water
- Tea and coffee
Join us as we delve into one of the nation’s most frequented lock systems, the Hiram Chittenden Locks! This tour, both on foot and by car, allows us to observe vessels navigating through the locks and explore their workings. During the latter part of spring, we have the opportunity to visit the city’s biggest colony of Great Blue Heron to observe and listen to the chicks, along with watching baby salmon, or smolts, journey towards the ocean. From the middle of June until September, we can observe mature salmon returning to traverse the fish ladder as they journey back to their spawning sites. We’ll gain insights into the transformative impact of this key maritime element on Seattle, along its pivotal role in freshwater lake management. Next, we head on to Gas Works, a unique park offering learning opportunities, views of float planes taking off and landing, along with breathtaking cityscapes. We conclude our tour with a visit to the houseboat communities on Lake Union, an experience that is quintessentially Seattle! For a personalized experience of this tour for 1 to 4 individuals, please reach out via call or text.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
