Trail running

@msfine2328 - I concur with @jjpptt2 on trails. When you start out, or if you have an injury or permanent physical issue with your running chain, you want non-technical trails. Where I live, I'd point you at the Erie Canal Trail, which hardly even qualifies as a trail, the way trail runners understand the term. It's flat, there are miles and miles of crushed stone or stone dust surface that is softer to run on than asphalt, and there are no roots or protruding rocks to worry about. From there, I'd move you to less technical trails that are mostly packed dirt with maybe an occasional protruding tree branch, and hills no steeper than you'd find on the roads anyway.

Your runner friend may be thinking about the brag-worthy trails with killer steep hills up (not too bad) and down (terrible if you need to be gentle with that hip), rocks, roots, and other stuff that appeals to young male runners with lots of testosterone. As long as your hip remains a concern, I wouldn't have you run trails like that.

Go ahead and try the trails you have in mind. If they're not very technical and they allow you to be gentle with your hip, you have a winner. If you find a stretch that resembles the highlight reel from an action movie, it's time to turn back and find friendlier terrain. Also be aware that even on non-technical trails, you need to pay more attention to the surface you're running on than you need to while running roads.

Edit to add: Recreational running on trails can be managed to suit your ability, picking the trails that are friendly to that hip. Trail races are another story. You get whatever the race director set up, which will frequently be designed to appeal to those young male runners with lots of testosterone.