Starting today, the scenic Boundary Trail and Redwood Trail in the Kula state forest reserve on Maui will be open to bicycle traffic on a trial basis. Previously bicycles were not allowed on these trails.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Forestry and Wildlife Maui district will conduct a trial opening, then evaluate impacts on the trail and review user comments in October 2008 and again in April 2009.

The opening will increase to six the total number of forest trails that are open to hikers and bicycles in the Kula state forest reserve. Other trails include: Skyline and Waiakoa Loop, and Mamane and upper Waiohuli trails, (the latter two are currently closed for hazardous tree removal). Bicycles are also allowed on the entire length of Waipoli Road. The total miles of bicycle trails in Kula forest reserve will now increase from 18.3 miles to 24 miles.

Mamane Trail and upper Waiohuli Trail will be opened as soon as these areas have been made safe for public access.

The Boundary Trail is approximately 4 miles long and begins at approximately 6,400-feet elevation, just past the Kula state forest reserve boundary cattle guard on Waipoli Road.