The Stairway to Heaven, also known as the Haiku Stairs, is one of the most popular hikes in Oahu, Hawaii. Comprising of approximately 3922 steps, the Stairway to Heaven was constructed by the U.S. Navy in the 1940’s to provide access to a radio tower at the top! Closed to the public in the 1980’s, the Stairs still remain a heavily trafficked hiking route that is considered illegal!
When we started planning our trip to Hawaii, the Stairway to Heaven found its way to the top of our list. We started speaking with local friends and they shared with us this legal route. This route takes the stress off of being caught by police and paying a $1000 fine!
Disclaimer: Keep in mind that this route is a legal way to get TO the stairs, the act of being ON the stairs remains illegal!
The legal route is known as the Moanalau Valley Road Trail. This 10.4 Mile trail (round trip), is quite a bit longer than the illegal way, but the hike has gorgeous view points that make it worth it.
Finding the Trailhead
You will find the trailhead on Moanalau Valley Road! The access is located at the back of the local park. You will need to park your car in either the parking lot at the park itself, or on the road. When you enter the park, you will notice a large gate at the very back…this is the beginning of the trail!
The Hike
The first approximately 3 miles of this hike is fairly flat. You will be walking through a very popular nature reserve. There are a series of concrete bridges you will walk over before the trail ends (We counted 17). Once you hit the end of the trail, there is a small footpath on the left side. Take this footpath and head to your right, following the creek. There will be a sign for the Kulana’ahane trail at the creeks edge, this is where you cross the stream and start your ascent!
This is where the hike becomes more difficult. You will gain approximately 900 ft of elevation in the first mile of your ascent. From this point however, navigating the trail becomes very simple. Following this trail up the ridge line will take you directly to the radio tower and to the stairs!
Advice for Your Hike
Before you begin this hike, it is very important that you check the weather. You do not want to hike this trail if there is a high wind or a chance of rain. The ridge line is very narrow and there are some points on the trail where you are completely exposed to the elements. This trail can get very muddy and slippery. There are ropes along the way to help you but the ropes tend to be covered in mud also.
This hike requires some time to complete. It took us just under 7 hours to complete this hike round trip. We hiked in a group of three and we are all experienced hikers. Keep in mind the sunrise and sunset times the day you are hiking! Also be aware that Oahu’s weather changes quickly. It’s important to be prepared for any kind of weather.
What to Pack
Our biggest piece of advice for you is to invest in spikes for your hiking shoes. Our entire group of friends that are avid hikers have some and they are life changers! Almost every trail you will hike in Hawaii will be muddy. These spikes allow you to have a better grip as you ascent and prevent you from slipping and falling (We have seen so many people fall while hiking in Hawaii from mud). We bought our trail spikes here!
Some other things to pack are:
– Light weight backpack
– 3 Litre Camelbak for each person
– Hiking Shoes
– Shoe Spikes
– Rain Jacket
– Snacks
– Camera/ Drone/ GoPro
Final thoughts
The Stairway to Heaven is one of the most rewarding hikes that we have ever done. It is a great adventure and the views are unbelievable! The legal way takes a lot of stress off of being caught by police and fined. We had so much fun completing this hike! We hope that you found this guide helpful and we can’t wait to see all of your pictures from this hike!
Before you Leave!
Make sure to pin this blog post to have a read again later!
Looking for more things to do in Oahu?
Check out our top 10 hikes in Oahu for more Hawaii inspiration!
