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50-state metal detecting intelligence

West Virginia National Forest Metal Detecting

Official-source rules, permission pathways, map context and practical next steps—kept separate from the rockhounding atlas.

West Virginia National Forest Metal Detecting

These records apply only to verified locations whose written rule and site-specific recreation footprint have been verified. A map pin is a public visitor/reference point, never a permission boundary.

2 verified records in this scope.

Universal map & navigation coverage0 independently verified coordinate pins · 2 records with safe map navigation
George Washington and Jefferson National Forests — West VirginiaWest VirginiaNamed public place map search
GoogleOSMApple
Monongahela National ForestWest VirginiaNamed public place map search
GoogleOSMApple
Allowed/restrictedPermit requiredProhibitedRestricted / partialReview

Map meaning: verified coordinate pins identify independently grounded public visitor/access reference points. Query-only records can be resolved on demand as temporary provider search matches; sensitive records use a deliberately broader agency/locality query. Temporary search matches are not stored as verified coordinates. No map mode is a property boundary, detecting zone, archaeological target, or permission boundary.

Allowed with restrictions — recent lost-item detecting may be lawful in suitable areas outside archaeological, historic, protected and closed locations; verify current local orders Grade A · 100/100

George Washington and Jefferson National Forests — West Virginia

USDA Forest Service

Forest Service policy allows metal-detector use on NFS lands for lawful purposes in areas that do not contain, and would not reasonably be expected to contain, archaeological or historic resources. Archaeological/historic artifact searching is…

DecisionAllowed With ConditionsTrip readyYesPlanGo Only With Verified ConditionsEvidenceCurrentScopeControlling Rule Scope StoredPrecisionConditional detector permission
Permit: No general permit stated for eligible areas; comply with all exclusions and current site controls Verified: 2026-08-29
Open verified record Google MapOpenStreetMapApple MapsNamed public place map search
Allowed with restrictions — recent lost-item detecting may be lawful in suitable areas outside archaeological, historic, protected and closed locations; verify current local orders Grade A · 100/100

Monongahela National Forest

USDA Forest Service

Forest Service policy allows metal-detector use on NFS lands for lawful purposes in areas that do not contain, and would not reasonably be expected to contain, archaeological or historic resources. Archaeological/historic artifact searching is…

DecisionAllowed With ConditionsTrip readyYesPlanGo Only With Verified ConditionsEvidenceCurrentScopeControlling Rule Scope StoredPrecisionConditional detector permission
Permit: No general permit stated for eligible areas; comply with all exclusions and current site controls Verified: 2026-08-29
Open verified record Google MapOpenStreetMapApple MapsNamed public place map search