Springtime Sights and Sounds at Ballard Locks

See the entire trip at http://www.everytrail.com.

This ride covers some really scenic waterfront territory in Seattle. Starting out with some heavy clouds threatening to do their usual spring thing, the ride follows the Elliott Bay Trail towards Magnolia Bluff where it joins the six-mile Magnolia Scenic Loop for a bit, then turns north to take in the Ballard Locks and salmon ladder on the Ship Canal, Golden Gardens Park and the hills above it with their views of Puget Sound and finally, after a return downhill through residential Ballard and across the locks again, Magnolia's Discovery Park and the back half of the Scenic Loop. Plenty of opportunity to take in great views of the Sound as well as work in some hill climbing practice. In addition to the waterfront views, the neighborhoods in Ballard are all abloom now that it's late April, with the early cherry blossoms having been replaced by rhodies and azaleas of all kinds and colors.

If you have the time to spare, it's worth pausing at the locks to watch a full cycle of moving the ships through. It's a pretty impressive feat of engineering - both in raising and lowering the water level and in keeping a barrier between saltwater Puget Sound and freshwater Lake Washington. A visit to the fish ladder is a must in late July to August, when the salmon are returning in incredible numbers.

The return run, passing along the Magnolia Bluff, affords some great views of Elliott Bay, West Seattle and Alki Point as well as Bainbridge Island and the Olympics - the latter when it's not cloudy, that is.

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Travel & Events

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• Road biking
• EveryTrail