How To Play: Parks

Let me tell you, my friends and I love getting lost in Parks—on the table, not in real life! If you’ve ever wondered How To Play parks without tripping over the rules, this guide is for you. We’ll start with a quick outline of the game rules, then get right to the best tips and tricks for winning. Grab your canteen and get comfy!

Overview

What’s in the box

• 1 Trailhead token
• 1 Trail End token
• 48 Park cards
• 24 Season cards
• 12 Year cards
• 10 Gear cards
• 15 Canteen cards
• 5 Hiker meeples (per player color)
• 1 First Hiker marker
• 1 Campfire token per player
• 12 Trail site tiles
• 35 Water tokens
• 30 Sunshine tokens
• 30 Mountain tokens
• 30 Forest tokens
• 15 Wildlife tokens
• 10 Photo tokens
• 1 Camera token
• 1 Scorepad
• 1 Insert tray

How To Play Parks: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the trail tiles in a random order. Start with the Trailhead at the left and the Trail End at the right.
2. Give each player two hikers, one canteen, and starter resources as shown in the rulebook.
3. Shuffle and deal out three Park cards face up, and set out Gear and Photo cards near the board.
4. Place the Weather tokens on the trail as directed for the round.
5. Everyone grabs a campfire token (unlit side up). Pick a first player. You are ready to go!

Gameplay

1. On your turn, move one of your hikers to a new space ahead on the trail. You must go forward; no backtracking!
2. Take the action on the space you land on. This usually means collecting resources (sun, water, forest, mountain), or snapping photos.
3. If you land on an occupied space, you must use your campfire token for that turn. Once used, flip it over. You can’t use it again until your hiker reaches the end of the trail.
4. Fill your canteen if possible, and use it for cool bonus actions as you go.
5. After both your hikers reach the end, you may visit a park (spend resources for points), buy gear, or take photos with leftover resources.
6. After everyone finishes the trail, reset the board, add a new trail tile, and begin a new season. Repeat for four seasons.

Winning

1. After the last season, total your points for visited parks, photos, and bonus points from personal year cards.
2. The player with the most points wins. Ties go to the player with the most unused resources.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. You can only visit one park, buy one gear, or take one photo per hiker at trail end.
2. Weather tokens placed on the trail give you extra rewards, so plan your moves wisely.
3. Some gear and canteens have powerful effects—read them carefully, especially as you learn how to play Parks.
4. If both your hikers are ahead of everyone else, you must keep going, even if you’d rather linger like a lost tourist.
5. If you run out of tokens, you can always trade two of one resource for another at certain trail sites. It’s not ideal, but sometimes you just need that last water drop!

So that’s how to play Parks! Next stop: actual strategy. Don’t worry, you won’t need hiking boots for this part.

Best Parks Strategies

Trail Planning: Charting Your Path to Victory

Trail planning in Parks makes the difference between a scenic stroll and a winning trek. I learned the hard way that random moves get you nowhere. Let’s get strategic!

Scout Ahead

1. Check the trail layout before your first move. Spot key resources you’ll need for park visits.
2. Plan your path to maximize photo and gear tiles, but still leave yourself options.

Block Your Rivals

1. Move to tiles that you know your friends need, just before they get there.
2. Save your campfire for key moments when blocking matters most.

Time Your Hikes

1. Don’t rush to the end. Pace yourself so you see every useful tile.
2. Keep an eye on where everyone is, so you’re never forced to skip valuable spaces.

When you master trail planning, you gain control. For anyone wondering How To Play parks with an edge, smart planning is your best friend. And trust me—nobody likes being out-hiked by Grandma.

Master Your Resources to Hike Like a Pro

Know When to Gather

Grab tokens at the right time. Early on, check what parks need the most. If everyone is chasing mountains, pick up water and suns. Soon, you’ll outsmart the group and snag parks before they can.

Manage Your Backpack

Your pack fills quick, so spend as you go. Don’t hoard! Turn in tokens before you max out and waste them. Use canteens and gear wisely to stay light.

1. Collect varied tokens early.
2. Spend tokens efficiently each round.
3. Watch for bonus actions on trail sites.

Plan for Big Parks

Finally, save specific tokens for high-point parks. If you focus on small ones only, you’ll fall behind. So, plan your moves around big rewards and make others jealous!

Snagging Gear and Snap-Happy Timing: Outsmart Your Friends in Parks

Pick Gear Early, Not late

You want to grab useful gear as soon as possible. I missed an epic win once by waiting too long, and my friend Sarah grabbed the headlamp before I could blink. For the best results, try these strategies:

1. Check gear supply every turn.
2. Prioritize gear that helps your route.
3. Buy gear before the last round.

Snap Photos When It Matters Most

Don’t just grab any photo. Each shot should actually help you. Last game, I snapped useless sunsets. Meanwhile, Ben grabbed the photo that gave him his third bonus park. Avoid my blunder with these tips:

1. Time photos for end-game points.
2. Watch your opponents’ camera tokens.
3. Hold the camera when you have extra resources.

Balance Your Spending

You need to watch your resources. I spent all my tokens on gear once and couldn’t visit parks. Follow these guidelines:

1. Buy only game-changing gear.
2. Never overspend on photos if there’s no bonus.

Learning how to play Parks includes knowing just when to snatch gear and when to snap that winning photo. Timing these right will make you a champ!

Ready to Hit the Trail Like a Pro?

Alright, that’s a wrap on my Parks strategy guide! I hope you won’t forget your water bottle and camera after reading this—I know I always do. If someone beats you to the mountain panorama again, just remember: it’s not about winning, it’s about looking cooler in photos. Try these tips, mess up a little, and laugh with your friends. That’s the real way to learn How To Play parks. See you out on the trail!

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