Break out your boots, Columbia gorge hikers.

Authorities have reopened several trails and lakes in the Columbia River Gorge and Mt. Hood National Forest that have been closed for months because of a massive wildfire.

Been yearning to test yourself on the challenging Mt. Defiance Trail? Do it. Ready to tackle the difficult Starvation Ridge Trail? It's all yours. Longing for a day at Wahtum Lake? Go, go, go.

Just don't think you’ll be the only one taking advantage of the newly-opened destinations.

And don't head out the door thinking you can show up at any gorge trailhead: Many are still closed in the aftermath of the nearly 49,000-acre Eagle Creek fire, which swept through the treasured area last year.

Here's a primer on what destinations have reopened, what's still closed and when we can expect other trails to reopen.

Mark Graves

Trails now open

Read and rejoice, hikers. Here’s an official list of trails that reopened to the public:

Mt. Defiance Trail No. 413

Starvation Ridge Trail No. 414

Bear Lake Trail No. 413A

Black Lake Trail No. 409A

Mitchell Point Trail No. 417 in the Mt. Hood National Forest

Rainy Lake Trail No. 423A

Rainy Wahtum Trail No. 409

Wahtum Express No. 406H

Warren Lake Trailhead and Warren Lake Trail No. 417A

Partly open:

Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail from Starvation Creek to Lindsey Creek

Anthill Trail No. 406B from Wahtum Lake to Rainy Wahtum Trail No. 409

North Lake Trail No. 423 from Rainy Lake Trail to North Lake

Wyeth Trail No. 411 from Mt. Defiance Trail to North Lake in the Mt. Hood National Forest

(We've also compiled 15 gorge hikes that are open to the public. Among the Oregon offerings: Rooster Rock Wagon Road, Mosier Twin Tunnels, Mosier Plateau and Rowena Crest.)

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Mark Graves

Lakes now open

Anglers are welcome at each of the half-dozen lakes that have reopened:

Bear Lake

Black Lake

North Lake

Rainy Lake

Wahtum Lake

Warren Lake

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Mark Graves

Trail timelines

Officials say National Forest System trails east of Cascade Locks will likely open before the end of June.

National Forest System trails in the gorge west of Multnomah Falls are anticipated to reopen by the end of the year, officials say.

And there’s no timeline for reopening National Forest System trails between Cascade Locks and Larch Mountain Trail, which runs to the top of Multnomah Falls and beyond.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Highway closure

Six miles of the Historic Columbia River Highway are still closed, according to the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the agency doesn’t have a timeline for reopening it.

The agency says the stretch of highway, which unlocks access to Horsetail Falls, Wahkeena Falls and the Oneonta Tunnel, among other destinations — is still dangerous. Over 1,000 cubic yards of rocks, trees and limbs fell on the section during a three-week stretch last month, according to the transportation agency.

Workers have removed about 5,000 hazard trees from along Interstate 84 and 7,000 from the historic highway, the transportation agency says.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Go early

Officials say Starvation Creek State Park — which grants visitors access to the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail and Starvation Ridge and Mt. Defiance trails — has 29 parking spots. They encourage visitors to start early or plan midweek trips so they can get a spot in the lot.

The park is accessible only from eastbound Interstate 84, officials say. Travelers should take exit 55.

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Mark Graves/Staff

Court case

A Vancouver teenager who started the Eagle Creek fire admitted guilt and was sentenced in February to five years of probation and 1,920 hours of community service.

It's not clear how much the teen will have to pay for sparking the fire, but the bill for restitution came to $36,631,687.10.

Hood River County Circuit Judge John A. Olson said Thursday that he needed time to review the request and would make a ruling in writing, possibly by Friday, on the teen's liability.

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NEWS: Starvation, Defiance, Mt. Hood Lakes Reopen After Eagle Creek Fire https://t.co/c6h3Gko1FE *All the newly reopened trails are located on the eastern fringe of the Eagle Creek Fire perimeter & may have increased hazards. Some adjacent trails remain closed.* pic.twitter.com/vqpqyGI2Rj — ColumbiaRiverGorgeFS (@CRGNSA) May 18, 2018

More info

Check out the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area's website for more information about the reopenings and trail statuses.

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Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Read more about the fire and its aftermath

-- Jim Ryan

jryan@oregonian.com

503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Maxine Bernstein of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report