From summit ridges to lush, green valleys, fast-running streams to bone-dry brush, Hawai‘i’s public access trails offer an unrivaled variety of unique hiking experiences — sometimes on a single trail. This summer, Advertiser reporter Michael Tsai takes a look at some of O‘ahu’s best novice, intermediate and advanced trails.

There are days when a hiker's body wants nothing less than six, eight, 10 good hours of physical punishment. Perhaps a scramble up Mount Ka'ala. Maybe an arid toe-stubber across Bowman or Lanipo trails.

Then, of course, there are days when the criteria for a successful hike includes nothing more than an easy walk in the forest and a little peace and quiet.

For the latter, the lightly trafficked Maunawili Ditch Trail in Waimanalo fits like your favorite pair of hiking boots.

The 2.7-mile horseshoe trail is short enough to complete in less than an hour, yet long enough to get muscles loose and blood flowing.

The trail was built by the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Sierra Club and the Hawaii Equestrian and Trail Association, whose members continue to help maintain it. According to HETA, it's the state's only designated horse trail, as indicated by the ubiquitous and odoriferous equine souvenirs along the path.

(Despite the name, the trail does not actually follow Maunawili Ditch, which is to the south.)

A red-dirt road off of Waikupanaha Street leads directly to the trailhead, and the first quarter-mile of the trail overlaps the Maunawili Demonstration Trail.

The trail, which winds around the lower slopes of the Ko'olaus, is broad and almost entirely flat, with intermittent shade from koa, 'ohi'a and ti. (For those who haven't seen ti plants in the wild, the skinny, 7-foot specimens that dot the surrounding forest are worth a stop-and-stare).

The narrow range of vegetation is consistent throughout, lending an almost numbing sameness to the trail. Yet, while the trail does not necessarily warrant close examination, it does provide a neutral environment that allows the mind to concentrate on other things, thus making it an ideal training ground for beginning trailrunners and mountain bikers.

The trail is firm and dry, particularly during the summer months — a dry stream bed offers a break from the otherwise uniform look of the trail — and light human traffic has allowed it to avoid noticeable erosion.

There are also numerous, unmaintained side trails that invite exploring (at your own risk), including one that climbs Aniani Ridge, which leads to Olomana.

The trail exits on Mahiku Place, a 10- to 15-minute neighborhood walk from the starting point.

While the Maunawili Ditch Trail lacks the "wow" features of other, more popular trails, but its relatively low profile is a positive for those who prefer to hike in solitude. Even during peak hours, hikers are unlikely to see another person on the trail.

And for some hikers, that's spectacular.

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD

From Waimanalo heading north on Kalaniana'ole Highway, turn left onto Kumuhau Street. Follow Kumuhau, then turn right on Waikupanaha Street. Continue past Mahiku Place until you reach a fence and gate on the right. Park along the street. The trailhead is beyond the gate, branching right off the dirt road.

WHAT WE LIKE

No muss, no fuss, no stress, no duress. Great for a simple nature walk, but also suitable for horseback riding, mountain biking and trailrunning.

WHAT WE DON'T LIKE

Doesn't offer much of a workout, and the surrounding forest isn't the most diverse or spectacular.

ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Some people fall in love with hiking the moment boot hits trail for the first time. For others, a bad first experience can leave lasting scars — literally and figuratively. Here are a few tips for making the most of your hiking experience, and for maintaining your enthusiasm for the trails.

Prepare: There's no surer way to spoil a hike than to show up unprepared for its distance, difficulty, or terrain. A perusal of the various local hiking books (we like "The Hikers Guide to Honolulu" by Stuart Ball Jr.) or a visit to www.hawaiitrails.com will provide the basic information you'll need.

Hike by feel: Just because a hike measures a certain distance has a start and end point doesn't mean you have to do the whole thing. If you feel like you've hiked enough on an out-and-back trail, there's nothing wrong with turning back and calling it a day. It's all about the enjoyment you get from the miles you put in. The same goes for time. If you're tired, slow down. If you want to spend 20 minutes sniffing a pine tree, go ahead. Hiking is not racing.

Bring a field guide: One of the best ways to enhance your hiking experience is to be as informed as possible about about your surroundings. Once you learn to identify plants and animals, and where they come from, each hiking trail you encounter will present itself to you as a living record of natural history.

Join a group: Another great way to learn about trails and the natural environments they intersect is to join a hiking group. The Hawaiian Trail and Mountain Club and the Sierra Club offer regular guided hikes on public and private trails around the island. Exploring trails with other hiking enthusiasts will also make the long miles and difficult climbs pass a little easier.

Hike regularly: It can take a while to find your "trail legs," that elevated state where mind guides body effortlessly through challenging terrain. It can also take time to develop the fitness needed to tackle some of O'ahu's more challenging trails. Hiking regularly can help you hold on to both.

Bring your best friend: Dogs like hiking even more than they like trucks. And why not reward your favorite pooch for putting up with a week of lame round-the-block walks with a Saturday afternoon of mud-splattery fun? Just be sure to bring enough water, and be mindful of your pet's fitness level.

Keep tabs on your favorites: Trails are dynamic things, and it can be interesting to keep track of the life of your favorite trail through changing seasons and over the course of years.

Change your pace: Even if you're married — by affection or convenience — to a single favorite trail, you can freshen a tired relationship by changing your approach. If you take a stab at trailrunning, perhaps all those switchbacks won't seem so interminable. Maybe if you slow down and smell the ginger, that lung-busting uphill climb won't be so taxing.

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.