Trail counters showed 2018 usage had already eclipsed last year’s activity before the busy summer period.
For the 2018 year until the end of November 28,323 people had used the trail.
The total 2017 usage was 21,482.
To aid in trail marketing and promotion, new counters were installed in March, which provided more comprehensive detail, Roxburgh Gorge Charity Trust trustee and Central Otago Clutha Trails Co Ltd director Barrie Wills said.
This included distinguishing between walkers and cyclists using the trail.
Previously, track usage was monitored through infrared counters on the 34km Alexandra to Roxburgh trek.
Dr Wills said the Roxburgh Gorge had been ‘‘well and truly found ... considering we only anticipated 5000 trail users per annum at the outset of the trail opening [in 2013].
‘‘People are aware of where the trail is now.’’
However, Dr Wills said the data was a conservative snapshot, as it was dependent on what routes cyclists chose to take.
‘‘Many riders go in and back out, so will register a double count. Other mountain bikers only go in one way, in or out over the Flat Top Hill, as do the people transported by boat heading down the Clutha Gold.’’
There was a spike in numbers on November 27 for the Roxburgh Gorge due to The Pioneer Mountain Bike race.
Counters were also installed in March on the Clutha Gold Trail, which did not have infrared counters.
The Clutha trail had registered 9123 users between March and November 2018.
Central Otago Queenstown Trail Network Trust chairman Stephen Jeffery said ‘‘word-of-mouth’’ was a major contributor to growth in usage of the trails and he expected the growth to continue.
‘‘It appears 60% of the people that come is due to word of mouth, from our survey.
‘‘If that is the case, you can understand why the numbers are growing year after year.’’
Mr Jeffrey said international numbers were growing but it was still predominantly New Zealanders using the trails.
‘‘You can notice a change.
‘‘Cars used to drive through the area with skis on the top. Now everyone is carrying a bike.’’
