Urban Walk - Ballard Locks

Meeting Place: We will meet on the Ballard side of the locks, at the entrance gate near the SW corner of NW 54th St and 30th Ave NW. Coordinates: 47.667434, -122.396231.

The grounds of the Ballard Locks include the Carl S. English Jr. Botanical Garden. The entrance gate opens at 7 a.m. Feel free to arrive early and stroll through this spectacular park (we will not visit this park on our walk). There is a public restroom on the grounds. Please be at the entrance gate (47.667434, -122.396231), ready to walk no later than 8:30 a.m.

Meeting Time: Gear on and ready to walk at 8:30 a.m.

Public Transit to the Ballard Locks:  Route 44 Ballard to 32nd Ave NW between NW Market Street and NW 54th St

Transit from Woodland Park Zoo: take public transit to your home, your next destination, or back to the locks (using the 44 bus route). If there's interest, we can also arrange to leave a car or two at the zoo for the drive back to the locks.

Setting off from the Ballard Locks, we will walk along side the Lake Washington Ship Canal and Shilshole Bay Marina to Golden Gardens Park. We will take the stairs from Golden Gardens Drive NW to the Loyal Heights neighborhood, passing the Loyal Heights Playfield. At Salmon Bay Park, we'll begin our walk on NW 70th St to Phinney Ridge, gradually gaining altitude after crossing 3rd Ave NW. We'll turn south on Greenwood Ave, merge with Phinney Ave N, and walk until we reach our destination at Woodland Park Zoo. Along the way, we'll pass local favorites such as Cafe Fiore, Larsen's Bakery, Rossellini's Bakery, and Red Mill Burgers.

The trail is accessible by public transit at multiple points and includes access to public restrooms, food and water.

You may elect to take the 44 Ballard bus back to the Ballard Locks.

For more information about Seattle's Olmsted Parks, please visit Friends of Seattle's Olmstead Parks at https://seattleolmsted.org/.

This is a mentored urban walk.