How To Play: Parks

If you ever wanted to hike through national parks but hate mosquitoes, Parks is the board game for you! After roping my friends into playing, we made all the rookie mistakes so you don’t have to. This guide lays out the basics of How To Play parks (so you don’t embarrass yourself), plus the cheekiest tips for winning. I promise, no actual bears involved.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Game board
• 48 Park cards
• 12 Season cards
• 10 Year cards
• 36 Trail site tiles
• 24 Gear cards
• 15 Canteen cards
• 1 First Hiker marker
• 1 Camera token
• 4 Hiker meeples per player
• 28 Wooden Wildlife tokens
• 12 Wooden Forest tokens
• 12 Wooden Mountain tokens
• 12 Wooden Water tokens
• 12 Wooden Sunshine tokens
• 4 Player boards
• 1 Trailhead tile
• 1 Trail End tile
• 1 Campfire token per player
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Parks: Rules Summary

Game Setup That Won’t Make You Cry

1. Give each player two hiker tokens in their color. (Not actual hikers, but close!)
2. Place the trailhead and trail end tiles at either end of the table. Shuffle the regular trail tiles and build the trail in a row between them—one tile per player, plus three.
3. Sort and stack the Park cards, Gear cards, and Season cards. Put those decks out where everyone can reach them, but not so far that Tim will knock his drink over trying.
4. Lay out all resource tokens (sun, water, mountains, forest) so grabbing them is easy. Also, set up the camera, canteen cards, and take a few deep breaths.
5. Reveal the top Season card for the first round’s special twist. Ready your emotional support snacks.

Gameplay: The March of the Tiny Hikers

1. On your turn, move one of your hikers forward along the trail. You must move to an open spot ahead of your hiker. No jumping backwards—trust me, I tried. Didn’t work.
2. When you land on a trail tile, do what it says! Collect resources or take actions. If you land where there’s already a hiker (including your own), use your campfire. Each campfire only works once per round.
3. If you reach the end of the trail, claim a park, buy gear, fill a canteen, or just sit and wonder where it all went wrong. Only one end-of-trail action per hiker per round, so choose wisely.
4. When all hikers have reached the end, put out the campfires, add a new trail tile, flip a new Season card, and build the next round’s trail. Repeat until four seasons have passed or someone flips the table.

Winning: The Real Reason You’re Here

1. After four seasons, count your points from parks, photos, personal Year cards, and any leftover bonuses.
2. The player with the most points wins! If there’s a tie, whoever took the most photos wins (likely the person who kept yelling “CHEESE!” every round).

Special Rules & Conditions That Might Trip You Up

1. Some park or gear cards bend the rules—read the cards closely. Don’t do what I did and ignore them, or you’ll miss some pretty helpful moves.
2. If you can’t move a hiker forward because every spot is blocked, you must hop to the trail end and watch the rest of the group have fun.
3. Don’t forget about your personal Year card goal! Those secret missions keep things spicy and can save your reputation at the end.
4. If you run out of a resource, well, tough luck—there’s a reason real national parks have limits. Adapt and maybe steal a token from Tim when he’s not looking. (Just kidding. Or am I?)

Understanding these rules means you now know How To Play Parks and will have just enough knowledge to lose gracefully or upset everyone with your sneaky photo points.

Best Parks Strategies

Trail Blazing: Mastering Movement in Parks

Keep Your Eyes on the Trail

Trail movement in Parks can make or break your strategy. Every step can mean grabbing that last sun token or missing out on the gear you needed. I have watched my friends leap ahead, only to regret it later. Instead, play patient and plan ahead.

Key Trail Movement Strategies

1. Pause and watch what others want before moving far forward.
2. Block useful spots to slow down your competitors.
3. Take scenic detours for bonus tokens—they add up quick!

React but Don’t Overreact

Sometimes, someone jumps to your favorite space. Don’t panic! Adapt; sometimes the less obvious route pays off in Parks. That’s how to play parks with skill.

Snap the Win: Mastering Photo Resource Management in Parks

Plan Your Camera Moves

First, notice where the camera icon sits. Plan your trail moves to grab the camera when you can, since owning it lets you take photos for just one resource. Don’t let your friends keep it for long!

Balance Photos and Park Visits

Next, don’t hoard your resources just for parks. Photos can add up fast, so use them to snag points between visits. Here’s how:

1. Check how many photos you need to beat your rivals.
2. Take extra photos if you see yourself falling behind in points.
3. Aim for a mix: parks and photos make a strong combo.

Keep an Eye on the Competition

Finally, always watch your friends. If someone grabs photos all game, they might sneak a win! Don’t let them fly under the radar. Stay alert.

How To Play Parks smart with resource management? Snap up those photos and keep your options open.

Mastering Park Visits for Big Wins

Plan Ahead for Each Season

First, study the parks available for the current game. Then, pick parks that match your resources. Avoid spreading yourself too thin. Focus on a few, valuable parks instead.

1. Review the park cards every round.
2. Prioritize parks with the best rewards.
3. Set a realistic target for the season.

Snag Bonus Opportunities

Sometimes, bonus cards or gear can boost your score just for visiting certain parks. Grab these when you can. After all, you want every visit to count.

1. Watch for bonus objectives.
2. Combine gear and park goals.
3. Double up on bonuses if possible.

Complete Parks Before Others

Be faster than your friends. If you see someone racing for the Grand Canyon, speed up! Otherwise, you’ll be left with scraps. Timing is everything when you visit parks.

1. Keep an eye on opponents’ resources.
2. Rush parks that everyone wants.

The Final Hike: Ready to Master Parks?

Alright trailblazers, that’s the secret sauce if you want to best your buddies at Parks. After enough games, my friends started hiding their marshmallows when I showed up. With smart trail moves, clever resource swipes, and a hawk eye for parks, you’ll start racking up points and rivalries. Just remember: don’t let anyone hog the canteen and never trust the one who whistles too much. Pack your bag, grab your best hiking pun, and show everyone you know How To Play parks like a pro. Happy hiking—try not to get lost!

Want to know what we think of Parks? Read our detailed review of Parks here