Each year, visitors gather along the shore to watch boats rise and fall inside the lock chambers. But the best way to understand how the locks work is to travel through them yourself.
Argosy’s Locks Cruise takes you on a two-hour, one-way journey between the Seattle Waterfront and South Lake Union. Along the way, you’ll experience the “boat elevator” firsthand, see two completely different sides of Seattle, and pass some of the city’s most recognizable waterfront sights.
What Are the Ballard Locks?
The Ballard Locks are a system of lock chambers connecting the saltwater of Puget Sound with the freshwater Lake Washington Ship Canal.
The two bodies of water sit at different elevations. Rather than allowing the water to flow freely between them, the locks raise and lower boats so they can safely continue their journey. Think of them as an elevator built for boats.
Once a vessel enters the chamber, the gates close behind it. Water then flows into or out of the chamber, gradually lifting or lowering the vessel until it reaches the level of the water ahead. The opposite gates open, and the boat continues through.
From land, you can watch the process happen. On the Locks Cruise, you are part of it.
How Do the Ballard Locks Work?
The Ballard Locks help boats travel between freshwater and saltwater while maintaining the water levels of Lake Washington and Lake Union.
Here is what happens when your boat enters the locks:
- The vessel moves into one of the lock chambers.
- The gates close behind the boat.
- Water flows into or out of the chamber.
- The boat gradually rises or lowers with the water.
- Once the water levels match, the gates ahead open.
- The boat continues into the Ship Canal or Puget Sound.
The process may only take a portion of the cruise, but it is one of the most memorable moments of the journey. You can watch the chamber walls move past the boat, see the water level change around you, and experience a piece of Seattle infrastructure that has kept the region moving for generations.
The Best Way to Experience the Ballard Locks
You can visit the Ballard Locks on foot and watch boats pass through from the surrounding walkways. It is a worthwhile Seattle attraction, especially when combined with the botanical gardens or fish ladder.
But watching the locks and traveling through them are two very different experiences.
The Argosy Locks Cruise puts you aboard the boat as it enters the chamber, rises or lowers with the water, and continues through the gates. Rather than seeing only the lock complex, you’ll follow the surrounding waterway and discover how it connects Seattle’s neighborhoods, industries, lakes, and waterfront.
The cruise is led by a local guide who shares stories about the locks, Seattle’s maritime history, and the landmarks you’ll encounter along the route. Indoor and outdoor seating let you choose how you take in the views, while drinks and snacks are available for purchase from the onboard bar.
What You’ll See on the Locks Cruise
The Locks Cruise is about much more than the locks themselves. The two-hour route takes you through several distinct parts of Seattle, with the scenery changing throughout the journey.
Depending on your direction of travel, you may experience these sights in reverse order.
The Seattle Skyline
From the waters of Elliott Bay, you’ll see Seattle’s skyline rise above the waterfront. Look for the Space Needle, downtown skyscrapers, waterfront piers, stadiums, and the hills surrounding the city.
On a clear day, the views may extend to the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, with Mount Rainier making an occasional appearance in the distance.
Elliott Bay and Puget Sound
The saltwater side of the cruise offers wide-open views of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. This is Seattle’s working waterfront, where ferries, tugboats, cargo ships, sailboats, and commercial vessels share the water.
The active maritime traffic is part of what makes each Locks Cruise different. You never know exactly what may pass alongside the boat.
Discovery Park
Near the entrance to the Ship Canal, the route passes Discovery Park, Seattle’s largest city park. Its wooded bluffs and shoreline offer a dramatic contrast to the industrial and urban scenery nearby.
West Point Lighthouse may also be visible near the edge of the park as you approach or leave the canal.
Gas Works Park
As the cruise moves through Lake Union, you’ll pass Gas Works Park on the lake’s northern shore. The park is known for its preserved industrial structures, grassy hill and wide views of the Seattle skyline.
From the water, you can see the park from a perspective that many visitors miss, with the historic gas plant framing the shoreline and downtown Seattle rising across the lake.
The Lake Washington Ship Canal
Beyond the locks, the cruise continues through the freshwater Ship Canal. This working waterway passes a mix of residential neighborhoods, maritime businesses, boatyards, docks, and fishing vessels.
It is a side of Seattle that is difficult to appreciate from the road.
The Fremont and Ballard Bridges
Seattle’s drawbridges are another highlight of the route. Depending on marine traffic and bridge activity, you will pass beneath the Ballard or Fremont bridges as they carry cars, cyclists, and pedestrians across the canal.
Seeing the bridges from below gives you an entirely different perspective on these familiar Seattle landmarks.
Lake Union’s Floating Homes
As the cruise reaches Lake Union, you’ll pass waterfront neighborhoods, marinas, houseboats, and floating homes.
Lake Union’s floating-home communities are among the city’s most distinctive sights. Some are compact and colorful, while others look like full-size houses sitting directly on the water.
Seaplanes on Lake Union
Lake Union is also an active seaplane base. Depending on the day’s flight schedule, you may see seaplanes taxiing across the water, taking off above the lake, or returning from trips around the Pacific Northwest.
It is one more reminder that Seattle’s waterways are not simply scenic. They remain an important part of how the city works.
A Short History of the Ballard Locks
The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks opened in 1917 as part of the Lake Washington Ship Canal project.
The canal created a navigable route connecting Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Puget Sound. This supported the movement of boats and commercial traffic while helping regulate the freshwater levels of the lakes.
The locks were named after Hiram M. Chittenden, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officer who played an important role in advancing the canal project.
More than a century later, the locks remain an active piece of infrastructure. Fishing boats, pleasure craft, sailboats, work vessels, and sightseeing boats continue to pass through the chambers every day.
They are not a recreation of Seattle history. They are a working part of it.
The Ballard Locks Fish Ladder and Salmon
The Ballard Locks are not only an important route for boats. They are also part of one of Seattle’s most important salmon migration routes.
Beside the locks is the Ballard Locks fish ladder, also commonly searched as the Ballard Locks salmon ladder, which helps migrating salmon move between the saltwater of Puget Sound and the freshwater Lake Washington watershed.
The fish ladder creates a series of gradual steps that allow salmon to bypass the dam and continue upstream toward spawning habitat. During salmon migration season, visitors can watch fish move through underwater viewing windows at the locks.
Several species of Pacific salmon use the route, including Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon. The exact number of fish and the best viewing times vary throughout the year, but summer and early fall are typically popular times to look for migrating salmon.
The fish ladder itself is viewed from land rather than aboard the Locks Cruise, making it a great addition before or after your cruise if you want to explore the Ballard Locks area more closely.
Can You See Salmon on the Locks Cruise?
Wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed, but traveling through the Lake Washington Ship Canal gives you a firsthand look at the same waterway salmon use as they migrate between freshwater and saltwater.
For the best chance to see salmon up close, pair your cruise with a visit to the Ballard Locks fish ladder and its underwater viewing area.
Why Is the Locks Cruise One Way?
The Locks Cruise operates as a one-way trip between the Seattle Waterfront and South Lake Union.
Rather than turning around and retracing the same route, the cruise continues through the city and allows you to disembark in a different Seattle neighborhood. This makes the experience feel less like a loop and more like a journey.
Your cruise may travel:
- From the Seattle Waterfront to South Lake Union
- From South Lake Union to the Seattle Waterfront
Both directions include the complete Locks Cruise route and a trip through the Ballard Locks. The main difference is where your day begins and ends.
Return transportation through City Sightseeing is available as an optional add-on (Spring and Fall only) to add during booking, or you can continue exploring from your destination using public transportation, rideshare, or a walk through the surrounding neighborhood.
How to Choose Your Cruise Direction
Both directions provide the same essential experience, so your choice can depend on how you want to plan the rest of your day.
Start on the Seattle Waterfront
Beginning downtown works well when you want to explore the waterfront before boarding. You can visit Pike Place Market, walk through Waterfront Park, ride the Seattle Great Wheel, or stop for lunch near the piers.
After cruising to South Lake Union, continue your day around Lake Union, MOHAI, the Center for Wooden Boats, or nearby restaurants and breweries.
Start in South Lake Union
Starting at Lake Union allows you to explore the neighborhood before your cruise and finish the journey in the heart of downtown Seattle.
Once you arrive at the waterfront, you’ll be close to Pike Place Market, Pioneer Square, the Seattle Aquarium, and other downtown attractions.
There is no wrong direction. Choose the departure point that fits most naturally into your Seattle itinerary.
What to Know Before Your Locks Cruise:
Check Your Departure Location
Because the cruise is one way, double-check whether you are departing from the Seattle Waterfront or South Lake Union. The boarding location listed on your ticket is where your cruise begins.
Arrive Early
Give yourself enough time to find the departure point, check in, and board. Seattle traffic, parking, and special events can all affect travel times.
Dress for the Water
Temperatures on the water can feel cooler than they do on land. Layers are helpful, even on sunny days, especially if you plan to spend time on the outdoor deck.
Bring a Camera
The scenery changes constantly throughout the cruise. Keep your camera ready for skyline views, maritime traffic, floating homes, wildlife, bridges, and the moment your boat enters the locks.
Plan Your Return
Decide in advance whether you will add return transportation, take public transit, use a rideshare, or continue exploring near your arrival point. Visit our Locks Cruise Transportation page for more return transportation tips.
Experience the Ballard Locks From the Water
There is only so much you can understand about Seattle’s waterways from land.
Step aboard Argosy’s Locks Cruise and experience the route that connects the Seattle Waterfront, Puget Sound, the Ballard Locks, the Ship Canal, and Lake Union. With a local guide, indoor and outdoor seating, and new scenery around every turn, it is one of the most complete ways to see the city.
Book your Locks Cruise and discover why Seattle is best experienced from the water.
FAQs
The Ballard Locks, officially named the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, connect the saltwater of Puget Sound with the freshwater Lake Washington Ship Canal. The lock chambers raise and lower boats between the two different water levels, functioning much like an elevator for boats.
Yes. Argosy’s Locks Cruise travels directly through the Ballard Locks as part of a guided journey between the Seattle Waterfront and South Lake Union. Guests remain aboard as the vessel enters the chamber and rises or lowers with the changing water level.
The Locks Cruise is approximately two hours long. It is a one-way sightseeing cruise, so guests arrive at a different location from where they boarded. Option to add a City Sightseeing (Spring and Fall only) return bus add-on at checkout.
No. The Locks Cruise is a one-way journey between the Seattle Waterfront and South Lake Union.
Depending on the sailing you select, you will either cruise from downtown Seattle to Lake Union or from Lake Union to the downtown waterfront. We offer an optional add-on return bus with City Sightseeing (Spring and Fall only) available at checkout.
Yes. The Locks Cruise is led by a local guide who shares stories about Seattle’s history, neighborhoods, maritime industry, waterways and landmarks throughout the journey.
Yes! The Locks Cruise is a family-friendly Seattle activity. Children can watch the boat rise or lower inside the locks while also seeing bridges, fishing boats, houseboats, seaplanes and other activity along the water.
Yes. Argosy vessels offer indoor seating and outdoor viewing space, allowing guests to enjoy the scenery from outside or stay comfortable indoors. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes. The Locks Cruise offers a perspective that is difficult to experience from land.
Even longtime Seattle residents can discover how Puget Sound, the Ballard Locks, the Ship Canal and Lake Union connect while learning more about the city’s maritime history and working waterfront.
The Harbor Cruise is a shorter sightseeing experience focused primarily on Elliott Bay, the downtown skyline and Seattle’s working waterfront.
The Locks Cruise is a longer, one-way journey that travels between saltwater and freshwater. It includes the Ballard Locks, Lake Washington Ship Canal and Lake Union in addition to views of Elliott Bay and the Seattle skyline.
Wear comfortable clothing and bring an extra layer. Temperatures on the water can feel cooler and breezier than temperatures on land, even during the summer. Sunglasses, sunscreen and a light jacket are useful additions.
Yes. The Ballard Locks has a fish ladder that allows migrating salmon to move around the dam between Puget Sound and the Lake Washington watershed.
Visitors can watch salmon through underwater viewing windows during migration season. Summer and early fall are generally popular times to visit the Ballard Locks fish ladder.
