Uli’s Stairs

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There are a number of hiking trails down the escarpment in Hamilton, but one stands out above the others. That’s because the steps were hand crafted by a man in the city’s east end. Little is known about the creator but those who use the steps every day marvel at his work.

Some people who have been lucky enough to meet the curator have told me that Uli is a private man, a retired steel company owner in his late 70’s. It took him nearly 5 years to place 305 natural stone steps along the escarpment near the intersection of Mountain Brow and Fennell Avenue East.

Uli sanded down fallen tree branches for the rails, planted flower beds along the path and perfectly placed every stone with his own two hands. It’s an enchanted walkway with a canopy of branches guiding the way down.

Uli’s steps used to be the only stairs in the area connecting the upper and lower part of the city that is until the city of Hamilton decided to build this staircase just a block away for nearly half a million dollars. A few years back the city said Uli’s steps wouldn’t meet any of the safety and building codes. Which is why they placed warning signs to tell hikers that they’re going down at their own risk.