How Muddy Is Moanalua Hike?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Super muddy at the very top and very steep

— lots of ropes. Lucked out with the weather. Very windy and overcast (above) so it was cool but the views to the windward side were unobstructed. Figure about 4 hours up (with mud), 30 minutes at the top for lunch and pics, then 3 1/2 hours back down.

How long does Moanalua hike take?

Try this 9.60 mile, out and back trail near Honolulu, Oahu. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of

5 h 17 min

to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and mountain biking, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring.

How hard is Stairway to Heaven hike?

The trail is

long and strenuous

, but offers amazing views of the Moanalua valley. Avoid fines and mini-heart attacks when you see police, and hike the legal way up instead. This post has all the information you need to hike the stairway to heaven the legal way.

Why is Stairway to Heaven hike forbidden?

The site has been illegal to visit since 1987 — but that hasn’t stopped people. Hawaii’s famous Haiku Stairs, known as the “Stairway to Heaven,” will be removed due to

illegal trespassing and injuries at the site that have led to hefty costs

.

How long does it take to hike Stairway to Heaven Hawaii?

So how long is the Stairway to Heaven? It is exactly 3,922 steps! It will take you anywhere

between 2-5 hours

to complete. It is much quicker on the way down, but beware of leg fatigue!

Can you drive around the entire island of Oahu?


You cannot drive around the entire island of Oahu

, but the drive around most of the island can be covered in a long day drive.

What island is the Stairway to Heaven on in Hawaii?

The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven or Haʻikū Ladder, is a steep, steel step structure that provided pedestrian access to former U.S. Navy communication facilities on the island of

Oʻahu

, Hawaii. The more than 3,000 steps span along Oahu’s Ko’olau mountain range.

Is there a legal way to do the Haiku Stairs?

Now, technically it is only Illegal if you are on the stairs, structures etc.

There is a legal way to reach the top

. The alternative route is the Moanalua Middle Ridge Trail to the Haiku Stairs. It’s an approximately 9-mile, out and back trail that is only recommended for avid and experienced hikers.

Is driving in Oahu easy?

Driving in Hawaii is

relatively straightforward

as roads are well signed and in good condition, particularly on the island of Oahu. Home to the tourist mecca of Honolulu, Oahu’s roads are the busiest and as such you’ll find several freeways here as well as the most developed roads in Hawaii.

Why can’t you play Stairway to Heaven at guitar shows?

The main reason why Stairway to Heaven is ‘banned’ in many guitar stores is because of a movie released years ago. The reality is that the song isn’t forbidden to play,

it’s just very overplayed by people trying out guitars

. You’re not going to get kicked out of any guitar stores if you begin playing this iconic song.

Is Stairway to Heaven closed?

This hike is

permanently closed

.

The hike is difficult. First you have to make the 2,120-foot, 3,922-step ascent. But even though the trail is closed today, some avid hikers go anyway because of the spectacular view that awaits from the top.

How much does it cost to hike Diamond Head?

Hours OPEN DAILY 6:00 am to 4:00 pm Gates Close = 6:00 pm CLOSED: Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years Entrance Fee *CREDIT CARD ONLY*

Hawaii Residents = Free w/Hawaii ID or DL Non-Hawaii Residents = $5.00 Children 3 and under = Free

Is it illegal to hike in Hawaii?

You’re no longer allowed to enter Stairway to Heaven from any route.

It’s completely illegal

and hikers who attempt to do it are regularly cited and fined – just DON’T DO IT. Fortunately, there are other legal Oahu hikes with views just as stunning.

Why is it called haiku?

Ansdell said that the Haiku Stairs, built in 1942, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor the previous December, and

named for the valley below

, had a relatively clean safety record.

Is Hawaii removing Stairway to Heaven?


Hawaii officials have announced plans to spend $1m removing a popular mountain trail known as the Stairway to Heaven

, which they say has become the scene of “rampant illegal trespassing” and safety concerns despite the public being banned from using it.

Are there poisonous snakes on Hawaii?


There are no poisonous snakes in Hawaii

, along with no large dangerous predators such as crocodiles, large cats, bears, or wolves. However, this does not mean that you should let your guard down in Hawaii. There are plenty of dangerous plants and species in Hawaii that can be poisonous.

How many steps is Koko Head?

HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) – For many of us, climbing up the

1,048 steps

at the Koko Crater Stairs just once is difficult. For a group of local hikers, though, going up once wasn’t nearly enough.

What are pillboxes in Hawaii?

The pillboxes in Lanikai were used as observation stations in 1943. Although pillboxes are usually armed with weapons and used as defensive stations, these

concrete platforms held observing instruments, which were used to determine the position of other boats

.

Which is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit?


Oahu

is the cheapest Hawaiian island to visit, with a total cost of $2,625. A Ko Olina Resort lagoon on Oahu. Maui is the most expensive island to visit, coming in nearly $1,000 more expensive, with a total cost of $3,600.

Is there a black sand beach on Oahu?

In Hawaii the term black sand beach has been used only for beaches dominated by grains of black volcanic glass. Lava flows entering the ocean chill and their glassy rinds shatter. Waves and currents may build a beach from the black grains of glass.

There is no black sand beach on Oahu

.

Is there a volcano on Oahu?

Today,

there are no active volcanoes in Oahu

. Most of the action is over on the island of Hawaii.

Is there a legal way to climb Stairway to Heaven?


The Moanalua Valley Trail to Haiku stairs hiking route

is one of the most adventurous hikes on Oahu. The hike follows the Moanalua Valley Trail before connecting up the Moanalua Middle Ridge, which is the legal ‘backway’ to the Stairway to Heaven (Haiku Stairs) satellite summit.

How do you get to Diamond Head?

The easiest way to get to Diamond Head is to

get on Monsarrat Avenue (the one-way street between the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Park)

. Once you have the zoo on your left and the park on your right, go straight ahead and it will eventually go uphill and become Diamond Head road.

How long did it take to build h3 in Hawaii?

The culmination of a

37-year

effort occurred on Dec. 12, 1997, with a brief, but colorful, Interstate H-3 opening ceremony.

What is the fine for hiking Stairway to Heaven?

STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN HIKE UPDATES

UPDATED 1/1/2022: Fines have been reported as

approximately $1000

, with people receiving them recently. Security has been upgraded and there is now not only security but also a frequent (but not constant) police presence.

Where does the Stairway to Heaven start?

The Stairway To Heaven trail is located on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The stairs start in

the Haiku Valley, under the H3 highway (John A. Burns Freeway)

and they wind up the side of a mountain near Kaneohe, called Puʻukeahiakahoe.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.