A method and a device can be used to monitor the travel path of a cutting extraction machine (1), particularly one used in coal mining, which can be moved along the working front (10) equipped with a face conveyor (9) and an advancing support (12, 13) in longwall mining. Despite extremely poor viewing conditions, the method and device determine hindrances that might be present in the travel path of the extraction machine, in the form of shield caps that are standing low, or extendible cantilevers, sliding roof bars, or other attachments of the advancing support that are hanging down, or overloading of the conveyor, in order to be able to take measures to avoid disruptions in operation, in timely manner. The travel path of the extraction machine (1) is scanned by a radar measurement device (14) assigned to the extraction machine (1), and if a hindrance is determined, an alarm is triggered and/or intervention into the control of the extraction machine (1) takes place.