This blog is for all my fellow treasure seekers and history enthusiasts. Many of us already have our go-to gear, but if you’re new to the hunt, you might be wondering where to begin. With so many metal detectors on the market, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. My advice? If you’re just getting started, keep it simple. A basic, user-friendly detector is the best way to learn the ropes without getting frustrated.

When I first started metal detecting I used the Garrett Ace 300. This machine works great and is perfect for beginners. Also, get a good pinpointer. I have an older Garrett Pro, but the newer version – Garrett Pro-Pointer AT with Z-Lynk is completely waterproof to 20 feet and hooks up to your wireless headphones.

If you’re new to metal detecting in Pennsylvania, it’s essential to understand the laws before you begin—so you don’t accidentally break them. Like many states, Pennsylvania has strict regulations that prohibit the use of metal detectors to search for antiquities or historical artifacts on state-owned lands. It’s illegal to collect relics or historical items from public property, and metal detecting in state parks requires prior permission. If your goal is to search for historic items, your best bet is private land—just be sure to get the landowner’s permission before you start. In this blog, we’ll cover some of the most rewarding metal detecting locations across Pennsylvania, along with a breakdown of relevant state and federal laws you need to know.

Pennsylvania is a state steeped in rich and diverse history—it’s where the U.S. Constitution was crafted, making it a must-visit for any history enthusiast. Beyond its historical significance, the state boasts stunning natural beauty and more than 100 state parks, offering an abundance of scenic landscapes and outdoor adventures set against a backdrop of deep cultural heritage.

The Keystone State is a treasure hunter’s dream, offering excellent opportunities to uncover buried coins and hidden valuables with a metal detector. Like many states, Pennsylvania is home to its share of legends about lost or stolen gold. With its many historic towns and long-abandoned settlements, the state is filled with promising locations where you can discover coins, relics, and forgotten treasures. I’ve listed 5 of Pennsylvania’s missing treasures in another blog, just click on the link to be taken to that story. One legend specifically seems to catch a lot of interest.

According to legend, 26 gold bars lie hidden in the northwest region of the state. They were supposedly buried by Union soldiers in the lead up to the Battle of Gettysburg.

For a long time, the story of Pennsylvania’s Civil War treasure was brushed off as a myth. But in 2018 something interesting happened. In March of that year, the FBI conducted a search for the gold. Although agents claim to have found nothing, the fact that the FBI was interested at all convinced many treasure hunters that there must be credence to the claims.

Today, metal detecting enthusiasts from across the country flock to Pennsylvania in hopes of uncovering its legendary buried treasures. This rich history of hidden fortune is part of what makes the state such an exciting destination for treasure hunters.

Pennsylvania is home to countless legends of buried treasure—hidden away in caves, abandoned mines, ghost towns, and even private property. Many of these lost fortunes are believed to have been stashed by outlaws during the early days of settlement. If you’re hoping to uncover one of these long-lost caches, your best bet is to dive into local history and do some research online based on the region you plan to explore.

Another kind of lost treasure in Pennsylvania comes from the early settlers who hid their valuables during a time when banks were few and unreliable. To protect their wealth from thieves, many people buried gold, silver, and other possessions. In some cases, they took the secret of the location to their graves, leaving the cache undiscovered to this day. Over the years, several remarkable finds of buried coins have been uncovered—and treasure hunters are still making new discoveries even now.

Metal detecting in Pennsylvania has gained significant attention in recent years, leading to a noticeable rise in competition. Still, I see this growing interest as a positive development. The hobby has built a strong sense of community, reflected in the many active metal detecting clubs throughout the state.

Don’t let the prospect of somebody beating you to a big find drive you away from the state. Let it motivate you. Plus, there are so many productive spots in Pennsylvania that everybody can potentially make an interesting discovery!

If you’re serious about uncovering real treasure and historic coins, there are several prime locations in Pennsylvania where your metal detector can truly shine. These spots offer a solid starting point and highlight the kinds of places that tend to yield the best results. With 13 million residents in the Keystone State, it’s well worth exploring the sights—and scanning the parks.

Busy Public Places 

High-traffic public spaces—like playgrounds, schoolyards, old drive-in theaters, and similar gathering spots—are great places to search for lost coins and valuables in Pennsylvania. While most of your finds in these areas will be modern, you might get lucky and uncover the occasional vintage silver coin.

It is important for you to check with the management before metal detecting any public arena. Some places restrict access to metal detectors, and you will not want to get in trouble. Each place has its own rules depending on the owner.

Other public areas that often produce plenty of coins and valuables for metal detector enthusiasts include sidewalks and public walkways. Spots around downtown parking meters can be especially fruitful. Just be sure to plan your hunt during off-peak hours to avoid interfering with foot traffic—early mornings are typically ideal.

Metal Detecting in Ghost Towns and Abandoned Places

Pennsylvania has several ghost towns which are rich places where you can discover some real treasure. The key to metal detecting in abandoned places and ghost towns is to do your research and find out what are some of the less explored places. The well-known ghost towns have mostly been hit hard by other detectorists.

Visit local libraries, read about the local history, search online and join forums to find information about some of the towns in Pennsylvania that are now long gone.

One good thing is that several ghost towns are on private property. You will have to get the permission of the owner before starting your metal detecting, but the nice thing is that you don’t need to worry about breaking any antiquities laws.

Also consider searching abandoned railroads and railroad stations, as they are some of the places you can find valuable relics and buried treasure. Workers camped alongside the tracks while they were being constructed, and they left behind a lot of interesting things at those old mining camps. There is generally no evidence as to where they were, so you will have to do some searching and exploring to find them.

Rivers & Creeks

In the early days before the railroads were built or motor vehicles were available the early settlers in the Pennsylvania region and the nearby territories used the rivers as the main form of transport.

People camped and fished along the rivers. If you can find an early campsite then you are likely to uncover some very interesting relics.

Metal Detecting Clubs

Pennsylvania is one of the most active treasure hunting states in America. This has inspired the establishment of numerous metal detecting clubs in the state. Most of these clubs focus on one region of Pennsylvania specifically, although there is a lot of crossovers between members.

If you are planning a metal detecting vacation in Pennsylvania, then I suggest contacting a club in the area you’ll be staying in. Club members will be happy to guide you towards the most active nearby spots. Some of the top metal detecting clubs in Pennsylvania include:

• Beaver County Detecting Club
• Black Diamond Treasure Hunting Club
• Central Pennsylvania Rock and Mineral Club
• Lancaster Research and Recovery Club
• Metal Detecting Western Pennsylvania

Laws

Metal detecting in Pennsylvania is regulated by the Archeological Resources Protection Act. The ARPA is a federal law regulating metal detecting across America. Its aim is to preserve items of historical and cultural significance. This law prohibits the removal of man-made objects more than 100 years of age from public ground.

The ARPA does not apply to metal detecting done on private property. Anyone planning to use their metal detector on private property should obtain the written permission of the landowner beforehand.

Pennsylvania’s metal detecting laws are among the most flexible in America. In Pennsylvania, metal detecting is allowed in virtually every state park. No permit is required. However, you can’t exceed the confines of what is considered “reasonable metal detecting.” There isn’t a lot of information as to what qualifies as “reasonable metal detecting.” Most metal detecting clubs in the area agree that it means avoiding fenced areas and busy parks.

Metal detecting on the state’s lakes and rivers is a little complicated. You are free to use your metal detector on the shore of any body of water between just after Labor Day and just before Memorial Day. Outside of this period, it’s up to the governing bodies of each lake or river to determine if metal detecting is allowed on its shores.

Metal detecting on public property is restricted to the hours between sunrise and sunset. For this reason, many treasure hunters plan their trips to Pennsylvania for the summer months when the days are at their longest.

Metal Detecting in State Parks

“The reasonable use of metal detectors is permitted in many state parks. However, metal detecting is not permitted where this activity would conflict with a facility in use, nor is it permitted within fenced areas of swimming pool complexes.

Metal detecting on beaches and in lake swimming areas will be permitted within a reasonable distance of shore from the Tuesday after Labor Day until the Saturday prior to Memorial Day, unless posted otherwise. During the summer season, metal detecting in beach and swimming areas will be at the discretion of the park manager based on the manager’s knowledge of the use and type of facility.

Metal detecting in other underwater areas will be permitted within a reasonable distance of shore if it does not conflict with other activities or have potential for causing damage to the facility.

Many state park areas have the potential for the recovery of valuable historical objects. State Park areas with this potential may have part or all their area closed to metal detecting.”

Hopefully this blog has helped answer some of your questions regarding metal detecting in Pennsylvania. There is plenty of information online if you’re willing to do a little research. Some people find research tedious and boring, but for me research is one of my favorite things to do. I love to learn everything there is to know about the place I’m exploring and searching. For me, it’s all about the history.