01
Free sample
Tantalus–Round Top Loop
Honolulu · ~10 mi · technical, twisty
Tight rainforest switchbacks minutes from downtown, with a knockout city-and-ocean overlook at the top.
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Tantalus–Round Top Loop
This is exactly what every route in the pack looks like. On the house.
~10 mi
Distance
45 min
Ride time
Loop
Shape
Tech
Character
Why ride it
Ten minutes from downtown Honolulu, the road climbs into dense rainforest and turns into a ribbon of tight switchbacks under a green canopy. It's the closest thing Oahu has to a pure technical "rider's road" — low speed, high concentration, and a payoff view of the whole south shore.
The route
From Makiki, head up Makiki Heights Drive and pick up the Round Top Drive ↔ Tantalus Drive loop — the two roads connect at the top, so you can run it in either direction. Round Top going up gives you the lookout on the way; Tantalus is the tighter, shadier side. Run the full loop and drop back down where you started.
Where to stop
- Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside — the big payoff overlook: Honolulu, Diamond Head and the harbor laid out below.
- Shady pull-offs along Tantalus for a breather under the canopy.
Ride notes
- Narrow, residential, lots of blind corners — keep your speed sane and stay in your lane.
- Cyclists, runners and hikers use these roads constantly. Expect them around every bend.
- Damp, leaf-littered tarmac under the canopy stays slick — treat painted lines and shade patches with respect.
- The state wayside gate closes in the evening; don't get locked in.
Ride it with live navigation
Scan for free turn-by-turn in Google Maps — or tap to open the route →
Conditions change. Ride within your ability, obey all traffic laws, and check for current closures before you go.
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