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Waʻahila Ridge Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 180 Google reviews · Running trail in Honolulu, Hawaii · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Waʻahila Ridge 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.
Relaxing park featuring kid-friendly hikes, picnic tables and panoramic views, plus a large pine forest.
What runners say about Waʻahila Ridge Trail
“The park is seriously legit with plenty of parking, picnic tables, flat areas and clean bathrooms.”
“Absolutely stunning views of Honolulu and the surrounding area with a ton of picnic areas to hang out at pre/post hike.”
“There isn't too much shady areas so a hat and sunscreen are good as well.”
“I drop it one star because there are no mile markers and I feel like it doesn’t warn how steep certain parts are.”
“The Kolowalu Trail is a great option for hikers of all levels.”
The Kolowalu Trail is a great option for hikers of all levels. The trail starts from a large parking lot and park, with beautiful views of the entrance. The trail is 4.1 kilometers long, with a mix of gentle and steep slopes.
Great trail. About 5.5 miles round trip and took 4 hours. Less crowded than many of the others. The parking alone is amazing, plenty of stalls off the street with a bunch of picnic tables and restrooms as well. There's tons of strawberry guava along the way, and they're delicious!
THERE ARE 2 TRAILS for those reading these reviews If you’re doing the first trail, you can probably do it in Converse or Crocs. I saw families, dogs and children. 2km up and 2km down. The second part of the trail is MT OLYMPUS which is incredibly challenging.
What an experience! When people said this was a hard trail..they weren't kidding. 1000+ ft elevation change with steep inclines and incredibly narrow pathways combined with mud made this quite difficult.
Trail conditions & character
“Breathtaking views of Diamond head crater, Waikiki, the valley, some parts of the west shore, and even the occassional, photo-bombing UFO .”
“The trail is much too austere for little ones; saw few families, even one with an infant, all turned around at the steep bolder obstacles.”
“The parking alone is amazing, plenty of stalls off the street with a bunch of picnic tables and restrooms as well.”
“The trail is not technical enough to require ropes, but it does offer some challenging sections.”
“There isn't too much shady areas so a hat and sunscreen are good as well.”
“The park is seriously legit with plenty of parking, picnic tables, flat areas and clean bathrooms.”
“The parking alone is amazing, plenty of stalls off the street with a bunch of picnic tables and restrooms as well.”
“I drop it one star because there are no mile markers and I feel like it doesn’t warn how steep certain parts are.”
Plan your run at Waʻahila Ridge 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
- Websitenoahlangphotography.com
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 7 am–7:45 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am–7:45 pm |
| Wednesday | 7 am–7:45 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am–7:45 pm |
| Friday | 7 am–7:45 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am–7:45 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am–7:45 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.
Waʻahila Ridge State Recreation Area
4.7 ★★★★★ 444 reviews
Forested park along a ridge featuring hiking trails, picnic tables & scenic views of nearby valleys.
Trailhead for Kolowalu and Puʻu Pia Trails
4.6 ★★★★★ 85 reviews
Serene, hilly trail with uneven paths through tropical terrain with abundant birdlife & views.
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.
Kaʻau Crater Trail
4.7 ★★★★★ 442 reviews
Steep jungle trail circling around a crater & past 3 waterfalls, with views of Honolulu & the ocean.
Round Top Forest Reserve
4.8 ★★★★★ 1,173 reviews
Scenic mountaintop offering panoramic views of Diamond Head, the coast and the city.