COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A new state trail extension will soon enable cyclists to access the Katy Trail from Columbia and ride nearly all the way to Kansas City, Missouri.

The Missourian newspaper reports that the first 47.6 miles of Rock Island Trail State Park will open Saturday. The trail will connect to Katy Trail in Winsor and continue west to Pleasant Hill, which is about 30 miles southeast of Kansas City.

The distance between the trail system’s western end and Columbia is 135 miles.

There are plans to eventually build a cross-state trail along the old Rock Island corridor. It’ll intersect the Katy Trail at both ends to form a nearly 460-mile loop.

Bike enthusiast Mark Bendel has been riding the Katy Trail since the first section opened in 1990. He says he’s looking forward to the new routes.