New York has a long history of various human settlements. This makes it a perfect state to find relics, artifacts, and treasures with your metal detector. New York is one of the oldest settled states in the country and you can find multiple types of treasures buried here.
Over the past several decades, metal detectorists have unearthed Dutch relics, Native American artifacts, European relics, and Revolutionary War relics. On top of its vast history, New York state receives a staggering 67 million visitors annually, while maintaining a population of nearly 8.5 million.
This means you will have great chances of finding lost treasure and buried loot in New York state!
- 1. Rockaway Beach – Queens’ Home for Surfing, Swimming, and Detecting!
- 2. Brighton Beach – Great Area of Dropped Loot!
- 3. Manhattan Beach – Great for Off Season Metal Detecting
- 4. Cedar Grove Beach – Old Sand but New Beach
- 5. Coney Island Beach – Popular
- 6. Fox Beach
- 7. Wolfe’s Pond Beach
- Metal Detecting Laws for New York
- Metal Detecting Clubs in New York
- Metal Detecting Treasures Found in New York
- Metal Detecting Resources in New York
- Metal Detector Stores in New York for Expert Advice
- Sources
- What do You Need For Beach Metal Detecting?
New York is a scenic and beautiful state simply perfect for metal detecting. You can check out some of the state’s ghost towns, secluded homesteads, city parks, state parks, beaches, and trails. You may even be able to find a shipwreck off New York’s coast. Be sure you contact the authorities to ensure you are following all laws pertaining to metal detecting while enjoying The Empire State!
1. Rockaway Beach – Queens’ Home for Surfing, Swimming, and Detecting!
Rockaway Beach is a popular area for swimmers and surfers. It is open year-round and is heavily populated from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Rockaway Beach is home to playgrounds, concession stands, and many other outdoor activities. It is also the city’s one legal surfing beach, which is located between 67th and 69th Streets, and 87th and 92nd Streets.
Metal Detecting Tip: Looking for more places in New York State to go Metal Detecting? Let me help with this article -> Best Places to Metal Detect in New York State
Where to Metal Detect on Rockaway Beach
Rockaway Beach is open to metal detectorists with restrictions. You may metal detect on the sandy areas only. You may not metal detect on boardwalk areas, in the surf, or any walking or parking areas. You will still find numerous treasures buried in the Rockaway Beach sands. This area is extremely popular with locals and visitors, so you have a good chance of finding something a recreator has dropped.
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When asked what I recommend, the 👉 Nokta Simplex Ultra stands out. Perfect for beginners, it’s waterproof, includes wireless headphones, and offers five functional modes, growing with your detecting skills.
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Metal Detecting and Beaches are a perfect match. To search a beach you’ve GOT TO HAVE A SAND SCOOP. CKG Sand Scoops are heavy duty and able to be used as a shovel.
If it’s time up UP YOUR GAME , get the industry standard metal detector. The Minelab Equinox 800 IS THE BEST. Okay it’s not cheap, but your finds are going to increase with this machine.
2. Brighton Beach – Great Area of Dropped Loot!
In the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, you can find Brighton Beach. This area is home to a large playground at Brighton 2nd Street, Brightwater Court, and the Boardwalk. The area was once a marshland and sand dunes. Today, it is home to fairgrounds, a bathing pavilion, and hotels. Brighton Beach is popular with visitors and locals.
Where to Metal Detect on Brighton Beach
Metal detecting is permitted on Brighton Beach, but you may not metal detect under the boardwalk from the beach or street sides. You may metal detect the rest of Brighton Beach, however. You have a good chance of finding dropped coins, jewelry, and other metal objects in this area.
3. Manhattan Beach – Great for Off Season Metal Detecting
Manhattan Beach is located on Brooklyn’s southernmost tip. It is a popular destination for summertime activities. There are 2 playgrounds on either end of the beach, 2 large baseball diamonds on the eastern side, tennis, volleyball, basketball, handball, barbecue areas, and is popular for swimming and lounging.
Where to Metal Detect on Manhattan Beach
Metal detecting is not permitted during the beach season. This rules out summertime detecting. You can, however, metal detect during the off season. This is preferred for many detectorists because the area is less populated. You will have a great chance of finding items dropped by those enjoying the beach over the sweltering New York summer during the off season.
Metal Detecting Tips: Here’s a shortcut link to Manhattan Beach (Google Maps) – Manhattan Beach for Metal Detecting
4. Cedar Grove Beach – Old Sand but New Beach
Cedar Grove Beach is Staten Island’s newest beach. This area is a converted oceanfront bungalow colony and is immensely popular with residents. Cedar Grove Beach is smaller than Midland Beach and South Beach, its nearby neighbors. During the beach season, there are lifeguards on duty daily, and swimming is prohibited when lifeguards are not on duty. Cedar Grove Beach is open daily in the summer from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Where to Metal Detect on Cedar Grove Beach
Metal detecting is permitted on Cedar Grove Beach except for the sand dunes or raised berms. All other sandy areas are open to metal detecting. The area is popular with locals during the summer months, so you have a great chance of finding some dropped coins, jewelry, and other metal objects. Scan near the edge of the water, near entry points, and along the towel line where people sunbathe.
Metal Detecting Tip: Try metal detecting some of New York’s State Parks. Taconic State Park is 14,000 acres and features many great metal detecting opportunities. Learn more about Taconic State Park and its vast metal detecting opportunities here: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/taconiccopake/details.aspx
5. Coney Island Beach – Popular
Coney Island is one of the most popular areas of New York. The island offers 3 miles of sandy beaches perfect for metal detecting. It also has outdoor sports areas, a boardwalk, playgrounds, and amusement park rides. Metal detecting is not permitted during beach season, only during the off season. Metal detecting is also not allowed under the boardwalk from the beach sides or street sides. Due to the high number of visitors to Coney Island each year, you have a great chance to find dropped items on Coney Island Beach.
6. Fox Beach
Fox Beach is part of the Great Kills Park region, home to Fox Beach, Cedar Grove Beach, Oakwood Beach, and New Dorp Beach. Fox Beach, like the other beaches in the region help alleviate erosion and flooding in nearby neighborhoods. Fox Beach is a popular spot for locals during the summertime. You have a good chance of finding some dropped loot on the sandy beach here. Metal detecting is not permitted on any sand dunes or raised berms on Fox Beach.
7. Wolfe’s Pond Beach
Wolfe’s Pond Beach is part of Wolfe’s Pond Park on Staten Island. This is one of Staten Island’s largest parks. The area has always been a popular recreation spot for New York residents and visitors. Native American’s settled the area roughly 6,000 years ago. You may be able to find some great Native American artifacts, artifacts from early European settlers, and more modern dropped items like jewelry and coins. Metal detecting is open in the swimming area only. The rest of the area is off limits to detectorists.
What do You Need For Beach Metal Detecting?
I’m going to provide an ESSENTIAL beach gear list. Everyone wants to enjoy beach time and dragging a pile of gear to the beach sucks.
- A great multi-frequency metal detector. Different metals react to different frequencies. Having a machine that utilizes multiple frequencies at the same time will greatly improve finding gold and coins. The Best Value is the Nokta Makro Legend check prices and reviews on Amazon with this shortcut link 👉 Nokta Makro Legend
- A great pinpointer, I’m an absolute believer in wireless tech. For years I would get tangled in my headphone wires. GO WIRELESS the Nokta PulseDive links to the Legend’s wireless headphones. Since it’s built for diving, it’s Heavy Duty. Short cut link to Amazon – Nokta Makro PulseDive
- Get a heavy duty sand scoop, I’ve bought the cheap plastic and metal scoops – NOT GOOD. They usually break within a day. 2+ years later I’m still hammering on my CKG Metal Detecting Sand Scoop 👈 Link to Amazon
Metal Detecting Laws for New York
New York, like all other states in the United States, requires metal detectorists to follow the Archaeological Resources Protection Act. This Act tries to preserve historical and culturally important artifacts from loss or damage. As such, no man-made object over 100 years old may be removed from public property. If you metal detect on private property, this Act does not apply to you.
Metal Detecting Tip: New York city allows metal detecting with the correct permits in parks. It’s best to read up on this to understand how to stay out of trouble. I recommend reading this -> Metal Detecting Permits for New York City
New York requires permits for metal detecting on city property, like parks and beaches. Any significant object should be reported to the Urban Park Service within 48 hours of finding the item. All identifiable property found by a metal detectorist is to be turned over to the Parks Department of New York Police Department precinct where the item was found.
A receipt will be provided and after the applicable waiting period, the object will be returned to the finder if the owner cannot be located. Officers may request you show them all objects you have found at any time.
Only digging tools which can be operated by one hand may be used to dig metal detecting finds. The hand tool is limited to 4 inches wide and 12 inches long. All disturbances are required to be restored after you finish digging a target. All trash should be removed and placed in proper trash receptacles.
You may not metal detect or probe within 25 feet of a tree or within the tree’s dripline. You may not metal detect in athletic fields, manicured lawns, newly seeded lawns, golf courses, woodlands, memorial trees, monuments, flower beds, gardens, native vegetation areas, or any areas with restricted signage.
Metal detectorists may not enter beach areas if they are closed for any reason. This includes endangered species closures, dangerous condition closures, and the absence of lifeguards during the beach season.
All metal detector permit applicants must show a list of all significant objects found under their previous permit before a new permit will be issued. Significant objects include all items with historical, archaeological, or paleontological value, or any coin or object whose value exceeds its face value. Learn more about metal detecting laws and permits here: https://www.nycgovparks.org/permits/metal-detector
Metal Detecting Tip: You can obtain a metal detecting permit for Long Island State Parks for $40 annually. This allows you to metal detect at Belmont Lake, Heckscher, Jones Beach, Orient Beach, Wildwood, and many more state parks. Learn more here: https://newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica.com/posProductDetails.do?id=336138&contractCode=NY
Metal Detecting Clubs in New York
- Empire State Metal Detector Association is an active metal detecting club in New York. They have multiple sponsors and hold regular meetings. Learn more here: https://www.esmdaclub.com/
- Genesee Valley Treasure Seekers operates out of Rochester, New York and has been in operation since 1990. The club started with 6 members and now has over 60 members throughout western New York. Learn more about the club here: http://www.gvts.org/about/
- The Atlantic Treasure Club is the oldest club in the Tri State area. They meet monthly at Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church and often have featured guest speakers, holiday parties, and prizes for best finds. Learn more here: https://atlantictreasureclub.com/about/
Metal Detecting Treasures Found in New York
A metal detectorist in New York found a gold object while metal detecting near LaFargeville Central School. It turned out to be a gold class ring from an attendant of the school in 2010.
He posted the ring to a Facebook group, and it was recognized by a woman as her son’s lost ring. She was a single parent and could not afford to get him another ring after his went missing. Read more about this amazing story here: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/09/15/class-ring-LaFargeville-Central-High-School-Kris-Haskins-Patti-Fish/6961631740632/
Metal Detecting Resources in New York
- Silver Recyclers is a great resource for more information about metal detecting in New York. Check out their website here: https://www.silverrecyclers.com/blog/metal-detecting-in-new-york.aspx
- MDHTALK is a great website for information pertaining to metal detecting in New York State. Learn more here: http://www.mdhtalk.org/cf/city-regulation.cfm?st=NY
Metal Detector Stores in New York for Expert Advice
- Metal Detector Distributors, Brooklyn, NY: http://www.metaldetectordistributors.com/
- Northeast Metal Detectors, Altamont, NY: http://www.northeast-metaldetectors.com/
David Humphries, Writer and Creator of METAL DETECTING TIPS. After borrowing my son’s detector and finding $.25. I felt like a treasure hunter. FREE MONEY! I was seriously bitten by the metal detecting bug.
Sources
- A big thanks to the team at Kellyco for picture credit. Kellyco Metal Detecting
- Google Maps is amazing! Credit for map pictures – Google Maps