Asset Retirement Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Changes in carrying amount of asset retirement obligations
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 217,312	$ 247,329
Reduction in asset retirement obligation attributable to sale of Decker Mine interest	0	(72,175)
Accretion expense	12,555	15,136	$ 15,342
Revisions to estimated future reclamation cash flows	(75,779)	28,243
Payments	(933)	(1,221)
Balance at the end of the period	153,155	217,312	$ 247,329
Less: current portion	(1,400)	(1,071)
Asset retirement obligations, net of current portion	151,755	216,241
Concurrent reclamation excluded from asset retirement obligation	5,700	$ 5,900
Cordero Rojo Mine
Changes in carrying amount of asset retirement obligations
Revisions to estimated future reclamation cash flows	46,800
Non-cash credit to depreciation and depletion expense	19,700
Related asset retirement costs	27,200
Spring Creek Mine
Changes in carrying amount of asset retirement obligations
Revisions to estimated future reclamation cash flows	21,600
Non-cash credit to depreciation and depletion expense	5,100
Related asset retirement costs	$ 16,500

No definition available.

Name:	cld_AssetRetirementObligationAdjustmentForDivestiture
Namespace Prefix:	cld_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Non-cash credit to current period depreciation expense due to downward revisions in asset retirement obligations in excess of basis

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cld_AssetRetirementObligationsInExcessOfBasis
Namespace Prefix:	cld_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Asset Retirement Obligation
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505190

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of accretion expense recognized during the period that is associated with an asset retirement obligation. Accretion expense measures and incorporates changes due to the passage of time into the carrying amount of the liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392692&loc=d3e7535-110849

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 410
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6392676&loc=d3e7480-110848

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationAccretionExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Current portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of asset retirement obligations settled, or otherwise disposed of, during the period. This may include asset retirement obligations transferred to third parties associated with the sale of a long-lived asset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationLiabilitiesSettled
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of the Increase or Decrease in the amount of the asset retirement obligation during the current period for changes in the amount or timing of the estimated cash flows associated with the settlement of the obligation.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRevisionOfEstimate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationRollForwardAnalysisRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Noncurrent portion of the carrying amount of a liability for an asset retirement obligation. An asset retirement obligation is a legal obligation associated with the disposal or retirement of a tangible long-lived asset that results from the acquisition, construction or development, or the normal operations of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetRetirementObligationsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of asset retirement costs previously incurred and capitalized separately from the capitalized amount of the associated long-lived assets.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 932
-SubTopic 235
-Section 50
-Paragraph 13
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8451039&loc=d3e61901-109447

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalizedCostsAssetRetirementCosts
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of a reclamation and mine closing liability that is associated with a legal obligation for the closure and reclamation of a mine including the removal of buildings, equipment, machinery and other physical remnants of mining, closure of tailings impoundments, leach pads and other mine features, and contouring, covering and revegetation of waste rock piles and other disturbed areas.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 5.Y.Q2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27011672&loc=d3e149879-122751

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MineReclamationAndClosingLiabilityNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=cld_CorderoRojoComplexMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=cld_SpringCreekMineMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: