Perched high on Oahu’s Waiʻanae range, Pālehua Trail Rides invites you onto hidden mountain paths with their well-loved Hawaiian horses. This locally run outfit keeps groups small, pairing each guest—whether first-timer or seasone...
This low-key operation wins hearts with its gentle horses and knowledgeable guides who make everyone feel comfortable, even first-timers. Reviewers consistently praise horses like Ohia, Hawaiian, Lani, and Sky for their sweet temperaments and patience with nervous riders. The guides—including Alyssa, Grace, Madison, and Ciara—get called out for being friendly, safety-conscious, and sharing interesting details about the land and horses. The ride offers beautiful ocean views and shaded forest sections, with sunset rides being especially popular. Expect a simple, relaxed vibe rather than a polished commercial experience. The horses are clearly well-cared for, and there's time after rides to feed and interact with them, which guests love. Getting there involves a dirt road, though regular Ubers manage it fine with advance scheduling. One rider wished there were designated photo stops along the trail, something other operations apparently do. Plan on getting dusty from the red clay terrain, but that seems part of the authentic mountain riding experience that keeps people recommending this spot for both beginners and experienced riders alike.
I had a fantastic ride with Ciara and Alyssa who were both very knowledgeable, kind, and both had the perfect personalities to be guides. I had the absolute pleasure of riding Hawaiian who is the SWEETEST horse on this planet! Just an incredible beginning to our trip. It was my friend’s first time riding and she was nervous but Ohia (her horse) happened to be the literal horse version of her (perfect pairing) needless to say, she wasn’t nervous for long and also had a blast!! highly recommend Palehua Trail Rides to anyone looking for a grounding, natural, stunning experience!
Amanda
a month ago
I had a fantastic ride with Ciara and Alyssa who were both very knowledgeable, kind, and both had the perfect personalities to be guides. I had the absolute pleasure of riding Hawaiian who is the SWEETEST horse on this planet! Just an incredible beginning to our trip. It was my friend’s first time riding and she was nervous but Ohia (her horse) happened to be the literal horse version of her (perfect pairing) needless to say, she wasn’t nervous for long and also had a blast!! highly recommend Palehua Trail Rides to anyone looking for a grounding, natural, stunning experience!
Amanda
a month ago