Walkways across the Ballard Locks will remain open while other visitor facilities are closed due to federal shutdown

The Hiram M. Chittenden Locks connect to the Burke-Gilman Trail to the north. To the south, users can cross an old biking and walking bridge over the railroad tracks to get up the hill to the W Government Way bike lanes connecting to the Ship Canal Trail and the Terminal 91 Trail to the downtown waterfront. Via Google Maps.

The Seattle Times reports that the garden and walkways across the Ballard Locks will remain open and the locks will remain operational while the visitor center, salmon viewing area and public restroom closed earlier this week due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The closed features are likely to remain that way until Republicans decide to stop trying to starve Americans with SNAP cuts and take away their ability to afford health care.

This is good news for folks who rely on that crossing, which is one of very few comfortable walking routes across the Ship Canal. You can also walk your bike across the locks and through the adjacent park. Even with the crowds and the long walks, walking your bike across the locks is still generally preferable to biking across the Ballard Bridge for most people. The walkways at the Locks were closed for a few weeks in 2013 due to a previous Republican-led government shutdown. They were also closed for more than a year in 2020-21 due to shutdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Walking path and garden access is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.