Martin County Coal Hollow Historic Mining Circuit

Coal Hollow Road winds through Martin County’s scarred landscape where underground mines once fed the Ohio River barge traffic, leaving behind a moonscape of strip pits now grown over with Virginia pine and sumac. The route connects ghost towns like Trinity and Crane through a network of coal haul roads and railroad grades that serviced operations from the 1920s through the ’70s. You’ll thread past flooded strip pits that reflect limestone cliffs, and the old company store foundations at Hindostan where miners once traded scrip for supplies before the seam played out.

Easy to moderate depending on seasonal conditions — the gravel and dirt mix handles well in dry weather but gets soupy during spring melt. Stock high-clearance vehicles work fine, though 4WD helps in the muddier sections near the strip pit areas. Best tackled May through October when the back roads aren’t washing out. No permits required on the county roads, but respect private property around the mining sites. It’s a genuine piece of forgotten Indiana industrial history, with decent camping spots around the old quarries if you don’t mind sharing space with the ghosts of coal camp families.