Hike the Guinard Clay Quarry Loop

This trail is a short 2.5 mile loop through what used to be the Guinard Clay Quarry in West Columbia, SC. The old pits from which clay used to be harvested have formed a bunch of ponds which attract wildlife. There are alligators in this area as well as deer, hogs, bobcats, snakes, turtles and birds. This trail is narrow, crosses several bridges and passes a few benches. There are parts of the trail where you walk along a dirt ridge between swampy ponds which may make it hard to complete this trail if it has rained recently. This trail had muddy spots even though it had not rained recently. The trail was narrowed by plant growth in some spots but not difficult to follow. There is plenty of parking at the trail head which leaves from the left side of the dirt parking lot and no fee to access this area.