# Creating API Gateway Stage

> Creates an API Gateway stage with CloudWatch logging, X-Ray tracing, throttling, WAF integration, and IAM roles following AWS best practices. Use when deploying a REST API to different environments such as dev, test, or production.

- Skill: `aws/creating-api-gateway-stage` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 2 files)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add aws/creating-api-gateway-stage`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/aws/creating-api-gateway-stage/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: aws (https://skillmd.com/u/aws)
- Updated: 2026-09-09
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/aws/creating-api-gateway-stage

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# Creating an API Gateway Stage

## Overview

Domain expertise for creating and configuring API Gateway stages with comprehensive
logging, monitoring, security, and throttling controls. Covers CloudWatch logging
setup, X-Ray tracing, WAF web ACL association, method-level configuration, and
authorization options.

## Create an API Gateway stage

To create a fully configured API Gateway stage with logging, throttling, WAF, and
authorization, follow the procedure exactly.
See [API Gateway stage creation procedure](references/create-api-gateway-stage.md).

## Troubleshooting

### CloudWatch logs not appearing

Verify the CloudWatch role permissions, log group existence, and that logging is
enabled at both stage and method levels. See the
[full procedure](references/create-api-gateway-stage.md) for details.

### Stage creation fails

Check REST API ID, deployment ID, IAM permissions, and stage naming conventions.

### WAF blocking legitimate requests

Review WAF logs, adjust rules or add exceptions, and consider count mode for testing.