Break out your bike or your hiking shoes, because new views of the Columbia River Gorge are about to open to the public.

Another segment of the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail will open on Saturday, Aug. 3, giving the public new access to the paved pedestrian and cycling trail that will eventually run the length of the gorge.

The new segment runs three miles connecting Wyeth State Park to Lindsey Creek, where it meets a smaller trail segment that opened in 2016. The paved pathway then continues 1.2 miles farther west past Starvation Creek to Viento State Park.

While the last trail segment completed gave new views of waterfalls, this one is highlighted by a 500-foot viaduct that rises up above Interstate 84, giving what promise to be great new views of the Columbia Gorge.

It also features safe passage around an unstable rocky hill known as Shellrock Mountain, a particularly tricky task for engineers.

When complete, the Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail will run 73 miles connecting Troutdale to The Dalles, retracing the original scenic highway that was partially destroyed in the construction of Interstate 84. While open for hikers, it’s particularly notable as a safe cycling path through the gorge.

All that remains to be constructed is the five-mile Mitchell Point segment, which requires either blasting a tunnel or building a bridge to connect the western trail segments to Hood River and The Dalles. A 2018 progress report cited 2020 as a target for the start of construction.

For now, the Oregon Department of Transportation will be focused on celebrating the opening of the latest segment, hosting a ribbon cutting at Wyeth State Park on Saturday, Aug. 3, at 10 a.m. The public will be able to explore the new trail by foot or bike from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The ribbon cutting will take place at the new trailhead at Wyeth State Park, found at exit 51 on Interstate 84. The Columbia Gorge Express will offer bus service to the event from the Gateway Transit Center.

--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB