The $7 million bond helped erase a blueprint for 1,400 stylish homes along the bucolic bench.

Now, volunteers and city officials want residents across the Salt Lake Valley to experience the pristine 1,100-acre patch, positioned along South Mountain.

Saturday brings the third-annual Draper Trails Day, a celebration of sorts for the suburb's 30 miles of soft-surface paths that branch off the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

The mostly free event is family friendly - offering a children's treasure hunt, miniature horseback riding, a climbing wall and a National Guard Apache helicopter.

Fee-based races also promise to draw hundreds of runners and cyclists.

"We're trying to provide access to anyone into a truly open-space area," says Ken Murdock, co-chairman of the Draper Trails Day Committee. "There are beautiful trails. Many people don't know they're here."

Families, for instance, can take a guided hike to Ghost Falls, which now features an arched bridge by the waterfall that was "air-dropped" last year by the National Guard. The medium-level hike includes plaques that denote canyon landmarks or information about native wildflowers.

"It's not only a pretty canyon," Murdock boasts, "it's also informational."

For a tougher, five-hour venture, hikers can meet at the Ghost Falls trail head for the climb to Lone Peak Basin.

Foot races, complete with water stations and prizes, will span four, six, 10 and 15 miles. The cost to participate is $25. The 15-mile road-bike race, for $35, will summit SunCrest then snake to Alpine and back.

Proceeds will help improve bridges and signs, while some of the cash will buoy South Mountain's amphitheater stage, expected to be built later this year.

Murdock notes the $9,000 trails day event is "completely self-supporting," covered by small-business sponsors rather than tax dollars.

Prizes and gifts will be donated by bicycle shops, running stores and other sponsors, which also are advertising the outdoor gathering.

After race registration at 7 a.m., the National Guard will land an Apache helicopter at the Andy Ballard Equestrian Center. The Guard also will provide a rock-climbing wall nearby.

Those who want to test their tech skills can go on a GPS treasure hunt known, a pastime known as "geocaching." Residents must bring their own GPS devices.

Food, including a Dutch oven cook-off, will be available.

The bash on the bench will conclude with a 1 p.m. awards ceremony.

"It's a wonderful event for our entire valley," Murdock says, "and every year we double [in turnout]."

djensen@sltrib.com

Draper Trails Day

* Saturday all activities except races are free.

* Registration for challenge races and road-bike race begins at 7 a.m. at the Andy Ballard Equestrian Center, 1600 E. Highland Drive.

* Attractions include a guided hike to Ghost Falls, a treasure hunt, a rock-climbing wall, a Dutch oven cook-off, a pony show, a mechanical bull and a National Guard Apache helicopter

* More information at www.drapertrailsday.com.