Seattle, Washington: Fish Ladder Viewing Room

An underground viewing room with seats and large windows enables humans to watch salmon swim upstream.

Ballard Locks Fish Ladder

Address:: 3015 NW 54th St., Seattle, WA
Directions:: Ballard Locks Fish Ladder. Park on the north side of the Ballard Locks. Walk through the main entrance of the Ballard Locks, past the botanic gardens and visitor center, until you see the Ballard Locks on Salmon Bay. Walk across the 100-foot pedestrian bridge that runs along the top of the Ballard Locks, to reach the Fish Ladder on its south side.
Hours:: Closed every May for maintenance. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 206-783-7059
Admission:: Free, but you pay to park.

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Fish Ladder exterior.

Ballard Locks Fish Ladder

The Ballard Locks Fish Ladder was built to allow salmon safe passage to their spawning grounds upstream, from late spring to early fall. See Sockeye from June through October (best viewing July); Chinook from July through November (best viewing last two weeks of August); Coho from August through November (best viewing last two weeks of September). There is an underground viewing room with seats and large windows to see the fish.

[Jennifer Murphy, 11/30/2022]