How To Play: Parks

I love board games that let you escape into the wild without actually getting dirt in your shoes. Parks is one of my favorites for that. After a bunch of plays (and heated debates about who gets the camera), I’ve put together this guide to help you win more often. We’ll go over the rules so you don’t embarrass yourself, plus the best ways to out-hike your friends.

Overview

What’s in the box

• 48 Trail Tiles
• 12 Season Cards
• 36 Park Cards
• 10 Gear Cards
• 15 Canteen Cards
• 1 Trailhead Tile
• 1 Trail End Tile
• 5 Campfire Tokens
• 10 Hiker Meeples
• 1 First Hiker Token
• 12 Photo Tokens
• 24 Wildlife Tokens
• 35 Forest Tokens
• 35 Mountain Tokens
• 35 Water Tokens
• 35 Sunshine Tokens
• 1 Camera Token
• 1 Year Deck (12 cards)
• 1 Reserve Token
• 1 Rulebook

How To Play Parks: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Lay out the trail tiles to form the hiking path for the season.

2. Give each player two hikers and a canteen. Deal everyone two gear cards, then keep one and discard the other.

3. Set up the parks, season, weather, and camera decks by the board. Fill up the park cards and bonus spots as instructed.

4. Give every player their starting tokens. My friend once hid my water tokens in his sleeve—don’t do that.

Gameplay

1. Players take turns moving one hiker forward on the trail. You can’t move backwards unless you have a fancy power.

2. When you stop, gather the tile’s resource. Sometimes, it’s sunshine. Sometimes, it’s water. Sometimes, it’s the tears of your rivals.

3. If you land where there’s already a hiker, you need to use your campfire token. Everybody guards their campfire like it’s gold.

4. At trail end, take special actions—visit parks, buy gear, or snap the camera like a true tourist.

Winning

1. After four seasons, count the points for parks, photos, and bonus cards. This is when you realize you should have planned ahead.

2. Whoever has the most points wins. In my group, the winner must treat everyone to s’mores, so aim high!

Special Rules & Conditions

1. Watch out for weather tokens—they drop bonuses on the trail and mess with your strategy.

2. If you get a gear card or canteen, use it wisely—they can break the rules in your favor.

3. No fighting over the parks deck. We had to make this rule after last game night got heated. Play nice, people!

Follow these rules, and soon you’ll know How To Play parks better than a seasoned park ranger (but with less bug spray).

Best Parks Strategies

Mastering Trail Moves in Parks: Stay Ahead!

Read the Trail Early

1. Check which spaces your friends eye hungrily and plan your route around them.
2. Pick less crowded paths so you avoid getting blocked by that one friend who camps on the best spots.

Max Out Your Position

1. Use your campfire smartly to leap onto a space before someone else claims it.
2. Think two moves ahead. If you go too fast, you’ll miss key resources. But if you lag, those parks will disappear.

Adapt As You Go

1. Watch other players. If someone’s rushing, you may need to speed up.
2. Change your path if someone blocks spots you need, instead of sulking like I usually do.

When my friends and I played, trail movement made or broke our games. If you want to know How To Play parks — and win — always keep an eye on the trail!

Hydration and Hikers: Mastering Gear and Canteens in Parks

Gear Up Like a Pro

Gear can change the whole game. First, always grab gear that fits your strategy. For example, I once snatched one that doubled my sun tokens and found myself grinning for the rest of the game. Next, compare gear abilities since some combos can make your friends jealous and mad, which is a bonus.

1. Pick gear that fits your plan
2. Stack gear for big point combos
3. Upgrade to high-value gear early

Canteens: Sip for Success

Canteens often get ignored, but that’s a rookie mistake. When water cubes pile up, use canteens to convert them to wild tokens or bonus actions. I often win by sneaking in extra visits to Parks this way.

1. Fill canteens early in your trek
2. Use wild token canteens for flexibility
3. Combine gear and canteens for secret moves

Timing is Everything

Don’t forget: the timing of using canteens and gear matters. I’ve lost points by waiting too long. Make your moves before you miss out!

Mastering the Art of Park Visit Timing in Parks

Why Timing Matters

Park visit timing can win or lose you the game. I once thought I could wait until the last turn—next thing I knew, my friend Becky took the park I wanted. Talk about heartbreak! So, timing is huge.

Watch Your Opponents

1. Always check how many hikers are ahead and behind on the trail.
2. Notice who collects the same resources you need.

When to Rush

1. If you see a park about to be claimed, use your campfire to leap ahead.
2. Sometimes, blocking a spot forces your rival to pick a less valuable park.

Playing the Waiting Game

1. Wait if you need more resources, but never wait too long!
2. Sometimes, patience earns you the best park if everyone skips it.

In my games, knowing when to go all-in or hang back has made all the difference. That’s How To Play parks with perfect timing!

Wrap It Up and Hit the Trail!

Alright, fellow hikers, that’s a wrap for my Parks strategy survival guide! If you remember nothing else, just know that my buddy Tim once tried to sprint through the game without a plan, and he ended up with only a squirrel and a sad canteen. So plan your movements, grab the best gear, and never, ever ignore those trail sites—unless you want to spend your next turn in regret city.

Mastering How To Play parks isn’t about being the quickest, but the sharpest trail blazer. Grab your friends, hit the trails, and let the great cardboard outdoors decide your fate. Happy hiking, and may your animal tokens always bring you joy!

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