Landowners have called for the would-be visitors to "hold their horses" on the partially completed section of the Clutha Gold Trail extension between Lawrence and Milton.
The Clutha Gold Trail Charitable Trust says the extension linking Milton to the cycle trail network through to Central Otago is ready for use.
Yet, some landowners along the new route say the trail is unfinished as it passes through their properties and remains unsafe for cyclists.
The disagreement has led to some blocking sections of the trail with barbed wire, and others using temporary gates, and spray-painting signage criticising the trust.
A message sprayed on the trail surface near the former Round Hill railway tunnel says, "Closed. Honour agreement rail trail. No entry!"
Jeanette Toghill, whose family farm hosts a section of the trail in the Manuka Gorge between Round Hill and Mt Stuart, said locals were concerned announcements the trail was open and ready for cyclists may have "jumped the gun".
"I've heard some sections may have been blocked off by angry landowners, but here we're just concerned for the safety of riders at this stage.
"We want the trail to go ahead. But it's not quite finished yet, and won't be until March-April, as we understand it."
She said social media reports of cyclists ignoring signage and riding unfinished sections did not help anybody.
"Cyclists need to realise the trail is being built with the good will of the landowners. There's been a miscommunication somewhere down the line, and people just need to hold their horses for a bit."
A cyclist from Milton, who did not wish to be named, told the Otago Daily Times his ride with his wife had proceeded smoothly until just past the Mt Stuart tunnel, also known as the Manuka tunnel.
"[We saw the gates and] turned around and went back to Milton.
"We met another couple who had ridden up to Lawrence and spent Monday night there and were returning to Milton.
They told us there was barbed wire across the track near the Round Hill tunnel end but they pushed their bikes under it and lifted them over the gates at the Manuka Hill Rd end as they needed to get back to Milton, pick their car up and return home," he said.
The extension will eventually stretch 63km from Lawrence to Waihola.
He said he was unclear of the details behind the disagreement, but hoped it would be resolved soon.
"I haven't been down to the tunnel section for a while, so I was not aware they had been blocked off," Mr Paterson said.
"Obviously, that's unfortunate, and we'll be talking to landowners to try and resolve things shortly."
