About Park Detecting

Who We Are

Welcome to Park Detecting, the web's leading independent directory for state park metal detecting regulations, permit guidelines, and historic preservation rules in the United States. Our mission is simple: to make park rules transparent, accurate, and easy to understand for recreational metal detecting hobbyists, while actively promoting cultural resource protection and ethical recovery practices.

We are a small, passionate group of metal detectorists, outdoor enthusiasts, and historical preservation supporters. We believe that history is something to be celebrated, and that recreational hobbyists can work side-by-side with park rangers and archaeologists to clean parks, recover lost items, and locate interesting items without damaging natural resources.

Why We Built This Site

Before this site was built, finding out whether you could metal detect in a state park was a frustrating chore. Regulations were buried in hundred-page DNR administrative booklets, outdated travel forums, or varying local park codes. Many detectorists unknowingly violated rules, leading to ranger citations or bans. Park Detecting indexes all 50 states in one clean, searchable directory, providing direct links to the official agencies that manage our public lands.

Our Editorial Ethics

We believe in "Leave No Trace" detecting. Every page on our site emphasizes that metal detecting is a privilege, not a right. We actively support and promote the preservation of historical artifacts and the protection of sensitive archaeological sites, including Native American mounds, historic battlefields, and shipwreck locations. We teach and advocate for the "plug recovery" method, sod care, and trash collection.