Introduction
Choosing between horseback riding tours in Hawaii comes down to four things: how long you are in the saddle, how fast the horses are allowed to move, where the trail goes, and whether you clear the rider requirements.
Blue Hawaiian Activities books five guided horseback rides, three on O’ahu and two on Hawai’i Island.
They are not variations on one product. Ride times run from 1.5 hours to 2.5 hours, stated weight limits differ by ride, and the stated minimum age ranges from 7 upward.
One ride is walking pace by rule. Two end at a waterfall where you can swim. One ends with you planting a native tree.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Hawaiian Activities books five horseback riding tours in Hawaii.
- Two Umauma rides on Hawai’i Island run 2.5 hours, Monday through Saturday.
- O’ahu’s two Scenic rides differ in length, pace and minimum age.
- Stated weight limits are 225, 230 and 240 pounds depending on the ride.
- Four of the five pages state that pregnant guests cannot ride.
Hawai’i Island: two waterfall rides at Umauma
The Morning Horseback Adventure Waterfall Swim & Trail Ride and the Afternoon Horseback Adventure Waterfall Swim & Trail Ride are booked separately, at different times of day.
Both run 2.5 hours, and both pages split that as 1 hour 45 minutes of horseback riding and 45 minutes at the waterfall. Both list Monday through Saturday.
The morning ride has a 9am check-in. The afternoon ride has a 12:30pm check-in for a 1pm tour time.
Both pages ask you to arrive 30 minutes before departure to allow for traffic and road work.
The route is described the same way on both pages: “a ride through the open ranges of Wailea and to the spectacular views of Maunakea and the shimmering Pacific Ocean.” The destination is what the afternoon page calls “the hidden waterfalls of Umauma.”
At the falls you can swim and paddleboard. Both pages describe “a relaxing snack break at the waterfalls,” and both tell you to bring your own camera, towel, phone, snack and drink for the picnic break.
Saddlebags are provided free of charge to carry that gear.
At check-in, guides assess your comfort and experience with riding before choosing one of the trail horses for you. Before the group leaves the stable they run a demonstration on the basics of riding “Paniolo Style.”
Rider requirements are stated identically on both. You must weigh less than 225lbs/102kg, all participants should be in good general health, and guests who are pregnant are unable to participate.
Both pages also state that they do not recommend riding for elderly or otherwise medically restricted guests, and that all medical or physical restrictions must be declared when you book.
Helmets are free on request and required for children 13 and under. Riders under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
On price, the afternoon page lists a single rate, “Traveler (8+ yrs) $166.75.” The morning page shows no price, so check that activity page for current pricing.
O’ahu: the two Scenic rides are different tours
Two O’ahu rides carry similar names, and booking the wrong one gets you a different trail, pace and age floor.
The Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour runs 2 hours on a working cattle ranch on the eastern shore of O’ahu.
Its page describes sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, World War II bunkers and Hawai’i movie sites, with the Ko’olau Range behind you.
The ride starts after a safety briefing and heads through a grove of monkeypod trees which, per the page, “once served as natural hangars for WWII airplanes.” Herds of cattle in the rolling pastures are described as not unusual.
Your guide covers the history of Kualoa and its standing as a television and movie location. The page names 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park and Lost among the productions filmed there.
The 2-hour tour time includes training and the safety briefing, so saddle time is shorter than that. Departure times are not listed on the page, and check-in is 30 minutes before your booked start.
Minimum age is 10, and the page requires riders to be at least 4 feet 6 inches tall and to weigh less than 230 pounds.
Helmets and closed-toe shoes are required. Pregnant guests may not participate.
The page also states you must be able to walk on unpaved or uneven terrain, and that anyone with back, neck, joint or muscular problems should carefully consider whether to participate. No previous horseback riding experience is needed. Food and drink are not included.
The Scenic Horseback Ride is a different product on the Ko’olau range, and its page places it near Laie and Malaekahana.
It runs 1.5 hours, with departures at 10:30am and 3:30pm. Arrive 30 minutes before your ride for a required 15-minute safety briefing.
The pace is set by rule. The page states this “is a walking-only ride, no trotting or cantering will be allowed.”
For a first-time rider, that puts the pace question in writing rather than in the guide’s judgment on the day.
The page describes it as “suitable for all skill levels ages 7 and up,” with a 240 lb weight limit and no pregnant riders.
The highlight is a scenic lookout with views over the Windward side of O’ahu. Wranglers share Hawaiian legends, the history of the paniolo, and stories of the Laie and Malaekahana area.
Ride sizes are kept small, per the page, and you are likely to see wild pigs, cattle and roaming horses.
Helmets are provided and required for riders 17 and under. Free parking, a live tour in English and a saddle pouch for water and a small camera are included.
Long pants and covered shoes are recommended. The ride runs rain or shine, and the page tells you to bring your own jacket if it is raining, with rain jackets available.
Small cameras are welcome. Backpacks and bulky camera equipment are not. Professional photography and bottled water are not included.
O’ahu’s North Shore: the ride that ends with planting a tree
The Horseback Legacy Forest Planter’s Experience is a 2-hour booking with 1 hour of riding time, at 9:30am or 3:30pm, with check-in 30 minutes before your ride time.
You ride up mountain trails through forests, open pastures and ocean views. The page says you might see tropical birds, grazing cows and wild pigs along the way.
The destination is a Legacy Forest planted as part of a reforestation effort in partnership with the Hawaii Legacy Reforestation Initiative, on O’ahu’s North Shore.
Once there, you personally plant a native tree during a ceremony, and guides talk about the history of Hawaiian land and how your tree contributes to the local ecosystem.
Budget for the tree separately. The page states that this tour requires the additional purchase of a dedicated and trackable native tree, that “the cost is $120 per tree,” and that the $120 is not included in the tour price.
That money goes directly to the non-profit for the care and health of the forest. The initiative’s technology lets you monitor your tree’s growth remotely.
On rider requirements, the page lists “Ages: All ages welcome,” states no weight limit and does not mention pregnancy. Silence there is not clearance, so call ahead if either applies to your group.
A 15-minute safety briefing is required. Tours run rain or shine, cancellations need 24 hours notice for a full refund, and the page asks for an extra 15 minutes of travel time for traffic.
Wear long pants, covered shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses and a light jacket. The base tour price is not shown on the page, so check it for current pricing.
Which Hawaii horseback ride fits you
| Ride | Island | Duration | Stated age | Stated weight limit | Pregnancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning Horseback Adventure Waterfall Swim & Trail Ride | Hawai’i Island | 2.5 hrs | Not stated | Under 225 lb | Cannot participate |
| Afternoon Horseback Adventure Waterfall Swim & Trail Ride | Hawai’i Island | 2.5 hrs | Rate listed for 8+ yrs | Under 225 lb | Cannot participate |
| Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour | O’ahu | 2 hrs incl. training | 10 minimum | Under 230 lb | May not participate |
| Scenic Horseback Ride | O’ahu | 1.5 hrs | 7 minimum | 240 lb limit | No pregnant riders |
| Horseback Legacy Forest Planter’s Experience | O’ahu | 2 hrs, 1 hr riding | All ages welcome | Not stated | Not mentioned |
Check the weight limit against the specific ride, since the three stated figures span 15 pounds.
For a first-time rider or a nervous one, Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends the Scenic Horseback Ride as the best horseback riding tour in Hawaii to start with, since its page fixes the pace at walking only and sets the age floor at 7.
The two Umauma rides state 1 hour 45 minutes of riding, and they are the two rides where the trail ends somewhere you can swim. If that swim is the whole point of the day, our guide to Hawaii waterfall hikes and swims sets them alongside the island’s other waterfall options.
For a mixed-age group, the Legacy Forest page lists “Ages: All ages welcome,” and Blue Hawaiian Activities books it as the best horseback riding tour in Hawaii for anyone who wants the day to leave something behind.
For O’ahu movie fans, the Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour names its filming locations on the page and covers the history of Kualoa.
Conclusion
The best horseback riding tours to book in Hawaii sort cleanly once you know the four variables: duration, pace, destination and rider requirements.
Two rides on Hawai’i Island end at the Umauma waterfalls after 1 hour 45 minutes on the trail. On O’ahu, one runs 2 hours past WWII bunkers and movie sites, one holds a walking pace for 1.5 hours from age 7, and one puts a native tree in the ground on the North Shore.
Read the requirements on the page before you book, since weight, age and health limits are written per ride.
Ready to pick your ride? Book with Blue Hawaiian Activities and our island concierges will match the trail to your group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best horseback riding tour in Hawaii for beginners?
Blue Hawaiian Activities recommends the Scenic Horseback Ride on O’ahu as the best horseback riding tour in Hawaii for beginners, because its page states the ride is walking only with no trotting or cantering allowed. The page describes it as suitable for all skill levels ages 7 and up, runs 1.5 hours at 10:30am or 3:30pm, and includes a required 15-minute safety briefing beforehand.
Do you need riding experience to book a horseback riding tour in Hawaii?
No riding experience is required for the horseback riding tours in Hawaii booked through Blue Hawaiian Activities. The Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour page states you do not need previous horseback riding experience. On the two Umauma rides, guides assess your comfort with riding at check-in before choosing a trail horse, then demonstrate the basics of riding Paniolo Style.
What is the weight limit for horseback riding tours in Hawaii?
The weight limit depends on which horseback riding tour in Hawaii you book. Across the five rides Blue Hawaiian Activities offers, the two Umauma rides on Hawai’i Island require riders to weigh less than 225lbs/102kg, the Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour requires less than 230 pounds, and the Scenic Horseback Ride sets a 240 lb limit. The Horseback Legacy Forest Planter’s Experience page states no weight limit.
Can pregnant guests join a horseback riding tour in Hawaii?
Four of the five horseback riding tours in Hawaii booked through Blue Hawaiian Activities state that pregnant guests cannot ride. Both Umauma rides state that guests who are pregnant are unable to participate, the Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour states that if you are pregnant you may not participate, and the Scenic Horseback Ride states no pregnant riders. The Legacy Forest page does not mention pregnancy.
How long is a horseback riding tour in Hawaii?
Horseback riding tours in Hawaii booked through Blue Hawaiian Activities run from 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The Scenic Horseback Ride is a 1.5-hour experience. The Scenic Valley Horseback Riding Tour is 2 hours including training and briefing, and the Legacy Forest ride is 2 hours with 1 hour riding. The two Umauma rides are 2.5 hours, split as 1 hour 45 minutes riding and 45 minutes at the waterfall.
