What could this group drop??

Abandoned Areas:
In the west there is a huge network of abandoned highways. My favorite in Utah is highway 6, where I've unearthed many coins and tax tokens from the 1930's on up. My other favorite in the west are abandoned mining sites. From small towns to early exploratory digs there are thousands to explore.

Winter Sledding Spots:
This one most think of, but keep it high on your list because it's a renewable resource. Most targets are at the top and the bottom of the hill.

Ski Lifts:
Another western states specialty. Just be aware of the regulations for detecting on Forest Service Lands, which is where most ski resorts reside. These areas are gold and silver ring factories...and in the last 5 years smart phones are popping up like weeds out there. With the huge variety of people that use the lifts you never know what you may find! 

Old Railroad Rail Lines:
Look to resources like GenDisasters for an incredible wealth of information on historic train wrecks, bank robberies, lost stage coaches, downed airplanes, all the way back into the early 1800's. The country is crisscrossed with old and abandoned railroad railroad line. Many abandoned rail beds have been converted to "Rails-to-Trail" hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling trails and are easy to find. Others are overgrown but can be spotted by their constant-grade profile. Old maps in your state library will show the location of many old railroad lines. Once located, and permission to prospect is granted, begin your search in the areas around the old station buildings. These are the most productive area as coins were handled there. But under no circumstance should you approach active railroad lines because of the obvious danger from trains and the sensitivity of railroad police to intruders.

Rivers and Waterways:
Many towns, villages and cities throughout North America boast significant historical value. Do not overlook the shoreline along rivers and waterways adjacent to those communities. Since water routes were the major means of travel over past centuries, there is much to find along the banks. I have found everything from old money to firearms, native trinkets, metal money boxes (sometimes with contents intact), fobs, watches and even nagivational instruments. Don't forget to search out into the water a ways. This is where it is important to own a waterproof detector. The past is waiting to be discovered right in your own community.

City Drains:
Most cities have storm drains that eventually dump into rivers or streams. Where the concrete ends and the dirt or gravel begins can be a productive sit.

Outdoor Movies:
It is becoming very popular in local communities to have free outdoor movies at parks or schools. Find out when the movies play, then go enjoy them, and then the day after hit it with the detector.

Airport Public Viewing Areas:
I have found all kinds of coins at these locations. People sit on the grass and kids are playing as they wait for the planes to land or take off, it's very similar to areas where people watch fireworks.

Please add your favorites here, I promise not to claim jump you...

On a recent trip through southern Utah I decided to check out an abandoned section of Highway 6 between Green River and Price. The route had been used by railroads and as a major thoroughfare starting in the late 1800's and in 1916 a bridge was put in across the Price river near Woodside, which greatly improved and increased it's use by all types of traffic.

It became an official part of Highway 6 in 1936. The sections I went to were abandoned in the late 60's or early 70's.  There are several dirt roads which leave the current highway and intersect the abandoned sections.  The old road is now basically a one lane road with grass and shrubs growing up through it. The shoulders have slumped off and in some sections dessert arroyos have washed the road away.

I knew there would be a good chance of hitting a lot of trash while detecting, but I also knew that whatever I found would not be too modern.

I was running my Minelab 705 X-Terra detector on all metal with the full range of sounds to help ID target sizes and types.  I've seen enough trash to know what to ignore and what to dig in these settings. 

The majority of my finds were car parts and a few cans. I knew I was seeing older stuff though because the beer cans were not pull tabs, but tops that had to be punctured with an opener...like an oil can.


On my next trip out there I will focus on some areas that were old train stops and also a few old bridge crossings. Even if I don't make any great finds, I love the setting and peaceful feeling.