The new trail between Lawrence and Waihola, the final extension of the Clutha Gold Trail, has proved very popular with cyclists.
The trail was officially opened in August, although parts of it were being used before that date.
Trail manager Shayne O’Connor said numbers of users on the trail had gone well beyond the estimation before it opened and it had proved "incredibly popular".
Many people from Invercargill and Dunedin had used the trail and enjoyed the experience, he said.
"Some of them have just gone on for one day and others have spent more time on it. They have all been full of praise for the trail," he said.
Many had pushed on past Lawrence and cafes in Roxburgh had reported increase patronage from riders off the eastern part of the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, Mr O’Connor said.
People were enjoying the trails and the nice weather of late, he said.
The trail goes off road and at the Waihola end there is a 1km long boardwalk, half of which goes over Lake Waihola, while the other half goes over wetland.
When the trail was opened there was concern riders would fall into the lake as the boardwalk had no barriers on either side.
Mr O’Connor said from what he believed no-one had fallen into the lake. The boardwalk was 2.5m wide so there should be plenty of room to stay on it, he said.
