Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard

Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard

Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard
5
Stand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
If you are considering a visit to Seattle or you are looking for a completely unique Pacific Northwest experience, let Seattle's top rated kayak and paddleboard tour and rentals company show you a truly remarkable experience. Whether you are completely new to watersports or have been around water your whole life, our trained guides will take excellent care of you during your time with us. We offer: TOURS leaving from Shilshole Marine -Ballard Locks Tour (our top seller) -Sunset tour -Discovery Point Tour (Lunch included) -2 hour Puget Sound Tour -Custom tour curated just for you And other seasonal offerings RENTALS from the beautiful Golden Gardens beach -Kayaks (Singles and doubles) -Paddle boards GROUP EVENTS at either beach or marina locations -Fully tailored to the specific needs of your group Do you have a group? We specialize in large, medium and small group activities or even fully catered parties that will leave your guests speechless! We handle it all, from transportation, F&B, games/activities to the entertainment. Make the easy choice, Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard. Let's go explore!
Seattle, Washington

Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024

Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours and Tickets by Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard
Travelers talk about

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles157 reviews
Excellent
143
Very good
11
Average
3
Poor
0
Terrible
0

Leslie D
Saint Jacob, IL69 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
We really enjoyed our Ballard Locks kayak trip. Our guide Lindsay was incredible and it was so cool to experience the locks from the inside. The salmon were jumping and the harbor seals were sunning themselves. I would highly recommend this tour for anyone who wants to experience the sound in a totally different way.
Written September 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

lisasuss
East Greenwich, RI166 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021
What a great day out! Blaine is a terrific and knowledgeable guide. He was great at giving paddling tips as well as local historical and natural history lore. I saw on the reviews that some people were unhappy because their tour was cancelled due to unfavorable conditions, but really? I would prefer to go with a company that puts my safety over their profit margin. Plus the gear is top notch. Lunch was beyond expectations. We saw seals, herons and starfish.
Written September 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stephanie C
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020 • Solo
Two Hour Sound Tour - I was in the area on a solo vacation and decided to jump on this tour. Blaine was a phenomenal guide. He was very friendly and very knowledgeable. He made sure that everyone was comfortable throughout the entire tour. I would DEFINITELY recommend this to anyone visiting the area or any locals who might be interested in getting out on the water!
Written June 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Beth M
68 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
We had the BEST time kayaking into the Ballard Locks and seeing them from inside the action! Our guide Lindsay was patient and very entertaining! He and Claudio pointed out some very interesting marine life, including harbor seals and starfish, as well as information about the Puget Sound, along the way.
Written July 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Flora L
Seattle, WA176 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Guides Lindsey and Kyle did great job ushering our group of 12 on six double Necky kayaks. Commentary and tips were exactly what was needed. Not too much and not too little. We probably needed to tied ourselves together better but our minor Kerfuffle just added to the excitement. Recommend it to all kayak fans.
Written August 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

clquinn711
New York City, NY18 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
My husband and I had an amazing time on the Ballard Locks tour with Blaine. We are extremely inexperienced paddlers and have never kayaked before but we felt safe and comfortable the entire trip. What a cool way to experience the Ballard Locks! We learned a lot about the ecosystem and history of the area also.
Written April 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LTKING
Atlanta346 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023
I did the Ballard Locks guided kayak tour last week. Parking was quick and easy; I parked on the street right across from the marina. I was the first to arrive and noticed all the kayaks were already set out and ready for the tour. This was great because most of the kayak tours I've been on have me helping to lug the kayaks to the put-in spot, which is fairly aggravating (shouldn't be my job). This tour had 6 guests and 2 guides, which was perfect. The guides were Claudio and Lindsay. I must say, Lindsay was the BEST guide I've ever had on a kayak trip. He was funny, personable, safety conscious and knowledgeable. I was tandem with Claudio and he was very patient with all my picture taking. On this trip, we saw plenty of seals, a bunch of jumping salmon and a neat looking water bird on the rocks. The locks themselves were really interesting. You have to experience it for yourself. The fact that you went from salt water to fresh water was amazing. This is a very unique kayak trip. I would do it again!
Written August 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Grace Ziwei
Washington DC, DC14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
We had a fantastic time on our kayak tour of the locks. Stunning views on the water, so many seals sunbathing on the shores, and of course, the locks themselves were fascinating. Jay and Sam were very knowledgeable and friendly tour guides. Highly recommend this tour - it was probably our favorite experience in Seattle.
Written September 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Turkey D
Ottawa, Canada6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Solo
Did the Ballard Lock tour with guide Lindsay and had a fantastic time! I learned a lot about the locks and also saw a ton of wildlife including Osprey, Bald Eagles, Harbour Seals, Kingfishers, Jellyfish and more! What a great way to spend an afternoon.
Written September 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave O
Seattle, WA496 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2015 • Couples
On July 4, I signed up for the sunset kayak tour. Blaine, the general manager, was extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. He knows the true meaning and value of good customer service, and he has a delightful personality.

The registration confirmation I received was excellent. Not only did it explain what to bring, when to arrive, and where to meet, it also contained a list of items to bring.

Matt, our tour guide, was as delightful as Blaine! (Note the pattern: having a "delightful" personality must be a job requirement!) Matt provided an outstanding technique and safety overview. Besides my friend and I, there was one other couple from Ohio. We left at 8:00 pm. The weather was perfect, and the water was like glass. Matt is extremely knowledgeable of the nature and the history of the area, and he provided information and answered questions throughout the trip. The sunset was simply amazing, with indescribable colors. Near the end of the trip, a seal came right up to our kayak, practically close enough to reach out and touch! Throughout the trip, I could not help but say "Wow!" and "Awesome!" repeatedly.

Thank you very much Blaine and Matt for providing us with such a "splendid" evening paddle! I will definitely return.
Written July 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 157
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

All Seattle HotelsSeattle Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in SeattleHotels near Ballard Kayak & Paddleboard
All things to do in Seattle
Day Trips in Seattle
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars