10 Best Trail Runs on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
On account of the mud, overgrowth, and steepness on even the best trails around Oʻahu, trail running can be pretty challenging in Hawaiʻi when compared to places on the U.S. mainland.
That said, there are amazing trails to run on all sides of the island, but this list below consists of the best trail runs on Oʻahu in terms of effort-to-reward, regarding minimal overgrowth and great views!
If you aren’t familiar with any of these hikes, know that many of the ones listed below are very steep—even too steep to run the entire trail—but there are great sections to run on all of them, whether up or downhill.
Best Road-to-Trail Running Shoes
Oʻahu is a perfect example of a place where you need the best of both a road and trail shoe, especially on Mokulēʻia Trail listed below.
That’s why I prefer the Zinal Hokas, as they are the best mix that I’ve found for a comfortable road shoe, as well as a shoe with good grip on the trail.
My Hawaiʻi Hiking Checklist
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
10 Best Trail Runs on Oʻahu
With the exception of the first one, the following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, as all of the following trails make for a great trail run.
That being said, I think it depends on what kind of difficulty/ elevation gain you are comfortable with, as some, like the Mokulēʻia Access Road, are fairly steep to run the entire distance.
1. ʻAiea Loop Trail
Distance: 4.9 miles / 7.9 km
The ʻAiea Loop Trail is Oʻahu’s best trail-running hike because it’s one of the easiest trails to navigate, it’s a loop instead of an out-and-back trail, and it’s one of the few trails on this list that isn’t too steep to prevent you from running the entire distance.
From trail running purposes, I prefer to begin on the upper loop trail, like the post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: ʻAiea Loop Trail
2. Mokulēʻia Access Road / Mokulēʻia Trail
Access Road Distance: 7.2 miles / 11.6 km
Mokulēʻia Trail Distance: 6.2 miles / 10.0 km
The Mokulēʻia Trail is only (practically) accessible via the Mokulēʻia Access Road from the North Shore of Oʻahu. That being said, the reason why these two are listed together is that the access road, in combination with the trail, makes for a very beautiful but challenging and steep run if you do both.
Prepare for a long, steep, and potentially muddy run, as the access road begins on a steep paved road up to Peacock Flats, where it then transitions to the Mokulēʻia Trail, which can be muddy.
From the access road on the North Shore to the very end of the Mokulēʻia Trail, the total roundtrip distance is 14.4 miles (23.2 km), but most people don’t usually make it to the end of the Mokulēʻia Trail. However, I recommend checking out the posts linked below to see how far you may want to go.
Read My Separate Posts: Mokulēʻia Access Road / Mokulēʻia Trail
3. Keālia-Kuaokalā Trail
Keālia Distance: 3.0 miles / 4.8 km
Kuaokalā Distance: 5.2 miles / 8.4 km
The Keālia Trail is a lot like the North Shore version of the Koko Head Stairs, in terms of how the locals treat it like a quick evening workout.
The reason I have this one listed as Keālia-Kuaokalā is that the shelter at the top of the Keālia Trail isn’t the best place to end your hike/ run. However, the Keālia Trail is the best access for the Kuaokalā Trail on the other side of the Waiʻanae Mountains, so if you’re up for a longer day on the trail, that’s where all the real views are!
The distance from the top of the Keālia Trail to the start of the Kuaokalā Trail is 1.8 miles (2.9 km) each way, and roundtrip, the distance from the Keālia Trailhead to the far end of Kuaokalā is 11.8 miles (19.0 km). However, it is unlikely that you would do the entire Kuaokalā Trail because the best views are in the middle, meaning the roundtrip distance is likely to be shorter.
Read My Separate Posts: Keālia Trail / Kuaokalā Trail
4. Kaʻena Point Trail
Distance (West Side): 2.1 miles / 3.4 km
Distance (North Shore): 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
Kaʻena Point State Park, on the northwest side of Oʻahu, is home to one of the island’s longest undeveloped coastlines, where visitors can hike one of two different trails, beginning from either the North Shore in Mokulēʻia or the West Side past Mākua and Keawaʻula Bay.
That said, both the North and West Kaʻena Point Trails are very similar coastal trails, but in many ways, they could not be more different from one another. Therefore, I highly recommend reading my side-by-side comparison at the beginning of either article linked below to learn more about which route sounds most interesting to you.
In any case, the Kaʻena Point Trail from either direction can be extended by hiking up the Kaʻena Point Pillbox Trail to the WWII-era bunker above Kaʻena Point, which makes for one of the best year-round sunset hikes on Oʻahu!
Read My Separate Posts: Kaʻena Point (North Shore) / Kaʻena Point (West Side)
5. Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.2 miles / 6.8 km
The Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge Trail is my second favorite trail running hike on Oʻahu because, like Wiliwilinui Ridge, the vast majority of Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge can be ran, with the exception of the steepest sections near the end.
However, what sets Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge apart in my mind is that it’s more challenging than Wiliwilinui, and I have made it a personal goal of mine to get my roundtrip time under an hour—which currently sits at less than ten seconds above!
In any case, I don’t live as close to Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge as I once did, but I think it’s a fun challenge for anyone interested.
Read My Separate Post: Hawaiʻi Loa Ridge Trail
6. Kaunala Loop Trail
Distance: 5.4 miles / 8.7 km
The Kaunala Trail is easily the local trail on this list.
I love running the Kaunala Loop because of how quiet the trail is compared to other busier hikes on Oʻahu. In addition, Kaunala, like the ʻAiea Loop, should be easier to run for most of the trail, with the exception of a few potential muddy spots.
Overall, I personally think that Kaunala is a hidden gem to get away from the crowds!
Read My Separate Post: Kaunala Trail
7. Koko Crater Stairs / Botanical Garden
Stairs Distance: 0.9 mile / 1.4 km
Botanical Garden Distance: 2.0 - 3.0 miles / 3.2 - 4.8 km
Regardless of the distance, the Koko Crater Stairs is one of the most challenging runs/ workouts on Oʻahu. That being said, most people typically don’t run up the stairs, but if you’re up for the challenge, the fastest known time is 8:32!
In contrast, the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, on the inside of the crater, is a much more mild loop trail when compared to the stairs. Even so, the botanical garden is mostly uphill to reach the back of the loop, so even the easier option has its challenges!
Read My Separate Posts: Koko Crater Stairs / Koko Crater Botanical Garden
8. Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
Distance: 4.7 miles / 7.6 km
The Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail is one of my favorite ridge running trails on Oʻahu because of how short but rewarding the hike is to reach the Koʻolau Summit.
That said, the beginning of Wiliwilinui is usually easier to run compared to the higher elevations. However, the vast majority of the trail can still be run, except for the steep sections near the end.
Read My Separate Post: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail
9. Tantalus Loop Trail (Makiki Valley)
Distance: 8.4 miles / 13.5 km
The Tantalus Loop Trail to the Pauoa Flats Bench is the longest loop that you could make out of the trails on Tantalus, but there are countless other shorter options that could be pieced together using both a combination of both Tantalus-Round Top Drive and the trails.
One of the most popular of these shorter loops is simply cutting across the Makiki Valley Trail, which you can see the split for in the link below.
Read My Separate Post: Tantalus Loop Trail
10. Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail
Distance: 2.5 miles / 4.0 km
The Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail should be higher on this list in terms of the effort-to-reward, the quality of the trail, and its accessibility. However, since Lighthouse Trail is so popular among visitors, the crowds and tight parking situation make this one an easy number 10 on my list.
That being said, if you get on the trail early, the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail makes for one of the best sunrise runs on Oʻahu!
Read My Separate Post: Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail
Bonus: Hauʻula Loop Trail
Distance: 2.7 miles / 4.3 km
The reason why I didn’t include the Hauʻula Loop Trail on the top 10 list above is because of its accessibility on Oʻahu.
For most people living or staying on the island, this trail is a bit out of the way. However, it’s definitely a beautiful option that deserves to be on this list, and if you happen to be staying at Turtle Bay, then the Hauʻula Loop Trail is actually your most convenient option!
Read My Separate Post: Hauʻula Loop Trail
More Oʻahu Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing Oʻahu adventures, check out my separate posts below!
Best Hotels & Restaurants in Waikīkī
If you’re trying to decided where to stay on Oʻahu, check out my top 10 list for the best resorts and restaurants in Waikīkī.
I break down what makes one hotel a better choice over another, so that you can find the best fit for your stay on the island.
Read My Separate Post: Best Waikīkī Hotels & Restaurants
Waikīkī
HNL Airport-Hotel Shuttle
Prices on ride-share apps like Uber/ Lyft cannot beat the price of booking your hotel shuttle prior to arrival. I say this because there are additional fees for ride-share airport pick-ups at Honolulu Airport (HNL), which is why I recommend booking your transportation in advance using the options below.
Additionally, the last option below will go as far as the Ko ʻOlina Resorts on the West Side and Turtle Bay on Oʻahu’s North Shore!
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Oʻahu
Visiting Other Islands
If you are visiting Oʻahu or heading to another island, check out some of my personal recommendations for Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, Lānaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island (Big Island) in these separate posts.
If you’re trying to decide which island is right for your visit, check out my overview about each island in the post below.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Hawaiian Island to Visit?
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
The weather in Hawaiʻi can often appear to be warm and beautiful throughout the year, but in my experience, there is a lot more to consider when planning what time of year to visit the islands, such as what island you are considering, what sides of each island do you plan to stay, what activities are you most interested in, the wildlife, and countless other nuanced variables that can all impact the type of trip you can expect to have.
For these reasons, I highly recommend reading through my separate article to not only understand my thoughts regarding the best time of year to come to Hawaiʻi but also what you need to consider based on the time of year that you plan to visit.
Read My Separate Post: What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Hawaiʻi?
10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
There are a lot of different tour options to choose from on Oʻahu, but to make it easier to decide, I made a list of my favorite tours because some things simply are better with a local guide!
Read My Separate Post: Best Tours on Oʻahu
Oʻahu
Safety
All hikes in Hawaiʻi should not be compared to trails outside of the islands, and hikers should exercise due caution on every adventure, given that many are extremely dangerous.
By this, I mean that Hawaiʻi is known for hot, humid weather, steep, dramatic, and unstable cliffs, and flash floods, which can occur without warning. Therefore, it is important that you check the local forecast, understand the physical condition of your entire group, and pack sufficient food and water before attempting any adventure.
Disclaimer
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Furthermore, Noah Lang Photography LLC shall not be held responsible for any injuries, lost individuals, or legal issues arising from the use of information provided on this website, and if applicable, the above safety disclaimer should be referenced to provide a generic overview of the risks involved.
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