The Backbreaker

As was the case in many Eastern Kentucky communities in the late 1800s, when the work whistle blew each morning, many coal miners went to work in the depths of the Appalachian Mountains to mine black gold (Coal). This trail pays homage to the men and women who performed the backbreaking work each day in these communities. Take a journey through the heart of Kentucky coal country on the very same roads used to haul coal to railroads that transported America’s black gold to fuel its homes, cities, and its economy. This trail is 23 miles (31 minutes), boasts 178 curves of pure Appalachian history, and connects to another active haul road, Miners Slope 179 in Slope Holler, Harlan, KY. See the What’s Around feature on the App for more info.

GPX Trail File