Hiram M. Chittenden Locks and Lake Washington Ship Canal
Construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks was completed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Connecting the waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to the tidal waters of Puget Sound, the canal and locks allow recreational and commercial vessels to travel to the docks and warehouses of Seattle's busy freshwater harbor.
The grounds feature a visitors' center, fish ladder, as well as the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens. The Lake Washington Ship Canal Visitor Center is a great starting point for any visit. Both floors of the Visitor Center are ADA accessible, including the theater where short films are shown about the navigational and recreational aspects of the project.
Free daily tours of the Locks, Botanical Garden and Fish Ladder begin at 2:00 pm, each day the Visitor Center is open (Wednesday - Sunday, from May 1 - September 30), and run about one hour. Organized groups, like school field trips, may request an organized tour by emailing locktours@usace.army.mil to begin the request process. Organized tours are an ideal way to have your tour tailored to particular interests and are scheduled independent of the free daily tours. Lake Washington Ship Canal staff will work with your group to confirm your tour once a tour request is received.
Construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Hiram M. Chittenden Locks was completed in 1917 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Connecting the waters of Lake Washington, Lake Union, and Salmon Bay to the tidal waters of Puget Sound, the canal and locks allow recreational and commercial vessels to travel to the docks and warehouses of Seattle's busy freshwater harbor.
The grounds feature a visitors' center, fish ladder, as well as the Carl S. English, Jr. Botanical Gardens. The Lake Washington Ship Canal Visitor Center is a great starting point for any visit. Both floors of the Visitor Center are ADA accessible, including the theater where short films are shown about the navigational and recreational aspects of the project.
Free daily tours of the Locks, Botanical Garden and Fish Ladder begin at 2:00 pm, each day the Visitor Center is open (Wednesday - Sunday, from May 1 - September 30), and run about one hour. Organized groups, like school field trips, may request an organized tour by emailing locktours@usace.army.mil to begin the request process. Organized tours are an ideal way to have your tour tailored to particular interests and are scheduled independent of the free daily tours. Lake Washington Ship Canal staff will work with your group to confirm your tour once a tour request is received.
Need to Know
- Parking
The north parking lot adjacent to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks is city-owned. Pay stations ensure adequate parking turnover of the limited spaces and minimize all-day parking by non-locks visitors.
- ADA Compliance
A limited number of wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Visitor Center and Fish Ladder Viewing Room are wheelchair accessible. Many of the walking paths in the Botanical Garden are paved and the walkway along the Lockwalls are navigable by wheelchair. To request a wheelchair, notify a staff member upon arrival.
- Inherent Risk
An inherent risk exists while visiting areas on or around an active navigational waterway. Please follow tour guide instructions, observe all signage and keep out of restricted areas.
- Pets
Only service animals are allowed inside the Visitor Center and Fish Ladder Viewing Room buildings. Dogs are permitted outside the Visitor Center, but must be kept on a leash.
- Interagency Passes
Currently, Interagency Passes are not sold at Lake Washington Ship Canal. There are no Day Use Fees charged at this site.
Booking Windows
Tours reservations for the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden will be made available on April 17th, 2024 at 10 AM EST. Reservations must be made before midnight Pacific Time on the day of tour.
Changes and Cancellations
Customers may modify or cancel their reservation until 24 hours prior to tour time. Due to limited tour capacity, we recommend canceling if you are unable to make your reserved tour time. The $1 reservation fee is non-refundable.
Contact Information
Mailing Address
3015 NW 54th Street Seattle WA 98107
Phone Number
206-783-7059
