Home › Hawaii › Honolulu › Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trailhead
Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trailhead
4.8 ★★★★★ 585 Google reviews · Running trail in Honolulu, Hawaii · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Hiking trail following a ridge through guava & koa forest leading to a panoramic view at the summit.
What runners say about Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trailhead
“Beautiful view at the top, currently pretty muddy though and the steps at the top are very slippery and wet.”
“Incredible views, limited/no technical requirements, easy to follow, and a decent length and climb with the switchbacks.”
“Overall, it is a fairly easy trail but with beautiful views.”
Amazing hike. Park along the street in the neighborhood, being mindful of driveways and fire hydrants. The cul-de-sac is a no parking zone. There is restoration work going on right now, and you may be able to help carry water. The trail is very well marked (the valley and ridge hike start at the same place).
It's a fairly long hike, 5 miles round trip, starts with switchbacks along the valley, ends with some parts steep with steps and tree roots. Took us about 4.5 hrs bc we are a group of 2 kids (8 & 9) and 2 seniors (69 & 70). Regardless, everyone enjoyed it.
This trail was described as moderate by a local here. I would say this trail was difficult. The roots of the trees are exposed, there's boulders, loose rocks, steep uneven stairs, among other hard spots of this trail. It's nice thst it's shady in some parts though. This was a very challenging but very rewarding hike.
Great hike! Phone says it was 5.7 miles. 146 floors climbed. Started at 6:15 am. Finished at 8:50 am! Less than 3 hours it took us! Good incline, lots of stairs towards the end. Windy in certain portions of hike. Nice view Parking in neighborhood. Nice hike to do that is wayyyyy less crowded than diamond head.
Trail conditions & character
“Despite the difficulty the view up at the top and even just as soon as you get to the first ridge is definitely worth the struggle up.”
“It had been raining the few days prior and so a good portion of the upper trail was quite muddy, especially along the stairs so bringing hiking poles is very helpful.”
“There are a series of switchbacks, followed by some steep stairs (my knee was definitely sore the next day- some of the stairs were mid-thigh in height).”
“Make sure you grab a hiking stick, find one near the sign at the trailhead.”
“The trail is very well marked (the valley and ridge hike start at the same place).”
Plan your run at Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- Websitehawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov
- Phone(808) 291-6697
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Honolulu
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 606 reviews
Steep reserve trail along a ridge through koa and guava forest & lush native vegetation.
Koko Crater Railway Trailhead
4.9 ★★★★★ 2,262 reviews
Steep hike up an abandoned railroad track on Koko Crater, with dramatic ocean & city views.
Koko Head District Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 8,062 reviews
Sprawling collection of sports fields, gardens, picnic areas & stairs climbing a volcanic crater.
Koko Crater Stairs (Summit)
4.9 ★★★★★ 896 reviews
Steep but popular track of 1000+ steps up an old railway line to scenic summit vistas.
Kaʻau Crater Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 442 reviews
Steep jungle trail circling around a crater & past 3 waterfalls, with views of Honolulu & the ocean.
Mauʻumae Ridge Trail (Puʻu Lanipō)
4.7 ★★★★★ 129 reviews
Challenging trail that goes up and down along a ridge, rewarding hikers with valley and mountain views.