Two prominent trails, the Kaskaskia Trail (from Shawneetown to Kaskaskia) and the Goshen Trail (branching southeast of Eldorado to the Goshen settlements in Madison County), crossed through the area.

The Vincennes to Cairo Railroad was completed in 1872 and ran through the communities of Eldorado and Harrisburg. The communities of Carrier Mills and Stonefort developed along the railroad.  Today, the Tunnel Hill Trail follows the old railroad bed.

An electric trolley line, called the Coal Belt Electric Railway, once operated in Saline County, running from Eldorado to Harrisburg and Carrier Mills, with stops in Wasson, Muddy, and Ledford.