SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
Total revenues	$ 527,291	$ 551,966	$ 439,041	$ 412,725	$ 542,050	$ 566,342	$ 604,619	$ 560,300	$ 1,931,023	$ 2,273,311	[1]	$ 2,300,324	[1]
Income from operations	123,796	95,450	89,280	54,428	5,841	106,706	123,931	122,937	362,954	359,415		539,664
Income before income taxes	119,198	88,850	81,638	46,881	21,108	82,874	94,265	105,932	336,567	304,179		492,669
Net income of AHGP	$ 61,212	$ 48,507	$ 45,373	$ 30,842	$ 28,735	$ 56,097	$ 60,950	$ 65,530	$ 185,934	$ 211,312		$ 284,351
Basic net income per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.02	$ 0.81	$ 0.76	$ 0.52	$ 0.48	$ 0.94	$ 1.02	$ 1.09	$ 3.11	$ 3.53		$ 4.75
Diluted net income per limited partner unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.02	$ 0.81	$ 0.76	$ 0.52	$ 0.48	$ 0.94	$ 1.02	$ 1.09	$ 3.11	$ 3.53		$ 4.75
Weighted average number of units outstanding - basic (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000		59,863,000
Weighted average number of units outstanding - diluted (in units)	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000	59,863,000		59,863,000
Asset impairment					$ 89,400	$ 10,700				$ 100,130
Net gain relating to final business combination accounting					$ 22,500					$ 22,548

[1] Revenues included in the Other and Corporate column are primarily attributable to the Matrix Group revenues, Mt. Vernon transloading revenues, administrative service revenues from affiliates, MAC revenues, Wildcat Insurance revenues and brokerage coal sales.