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Mānoa Falls Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 5,336 Google reviews · Running trail in Honolulu, Hawaii · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Mānoa Falls Trail'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.
This picturesque rainforest trail leading to Mānoa Falls has appeared in several movies.
What runners say about Mānoa Falls Trail
“It combines an accessible walk with stunning views and the opportunity to explore a rich biodiversity.”
“Not family-friendly per se, many young families can do it but it is muddy, rocky, steep, long and uphill the whole way up.”
Mānoa Falls Trail is a beautiful rainforest hike and definitely worth doing while visiting Oahu. The scenery is lush and tropical, and the waterfall at the end is well worth the walk. We even spotted a poison dart frog along the trail, which was a fun surprise.
Beautiful hike. It has a rocky path that gets pretty muddy/slick so recommend wearing close toed shoes. Some parts get pretty steep too so you may want to bring shoes rhat have soles with grip if it's rained recently. I do this hike every time I visit - it makes for a nice early morning work out.
Flora, Fauna and Views The trail is distinguished by an impressive biodiversity, which delights visitors with a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Although the waterfall had no water during my visit, the panoramic views that are revealed along the way are spectacular and undoubtedly compensate for the absence of…
Loved the hike up to see these falls. Would rate it a 6/10 difficultly. Great to see people of all ages making this hike. Shout out to the family that shared their peanut butter sandwiches with us at the top. Thank you so much for your kindness. Best peanut butter sandwiches ever.
Trail conditions & character
“Flora, Fauna and Views The trail is distinguished by an impressive biodiversity, which delights visitors with a wide variety of plants and wildlife.”
“The Rise and the Adventure I decided to venture higher, a 25-minute stretch that is characterized by a dense presence of bamboo and roots that cover the road.”
“It only drizzle a little, but it was enough to make the route a little muddy, so you should walk carefully on some steep areas along the trail.”
“I came on a Tuesday late in April, and the trail was fairly busy, with the parking lots (US$7 to park) being almost full.”
Plan your run at Mānoa Falls Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- 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
Hours
| Monday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Tuesday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Wednesday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Thursday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Friday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Saturday | 6 am–6 pm |
| Sunday | 6 am–6 pm |
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.
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