%2Fpic4852372.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
About Parks
Parks is a gentle set-collection game about hiking through the US national parks. Each season is a trail of site tiles, and you move your two hikers forward along it, taking the action of wherever they stop. Tokens for sun, water, forest and mountains are then spent to visit parks, which carry most of the points. The original edition uses poster art from Fifty-Nine Parks, and the table presence is a large part of its appeal.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
Is Parks Right for You?
Best for
Parks is for couples, families and friends who want a relaxed hour with a beautiful table and very little conflict. The only direct interaction is who takes which site first, so nobody gets attacked, and the rules can be taught in ten minutes. Two and three players is the sweet spot, and the solo mode is a pleasant way to learn the flow. Anyone who has been to a few national parks gets a little extra from it.
Maybe skip it if…
It is light and fairly repetitive; four seasons of walking the same kind of trail is the whole game. Players who want an engine that grows dramatically or a real fight for the lead will find it too gentle.
How to Play Parks
Setup
Lay out the trail of site tiles for the first season, with the trailhead and trail end at either side. Each player takes two hikers, a campfire and a secret year card, and three parks are revealed for purchase.
On Your Turn
- Move one of your hikers any distance forward along the trail to an unoccupied site, and take that site's action.
- A site with another hiker on it can only be shared by extinguishing your campfire.
- Spend collected tokens to visit a park, reserve one, buy gear, or take photos when the sites and cards allow it.
How to Win
After four seasons, score visited parks, photos and your year card objective. Most points wins.
💡 Strategy Tips
Do not rush to the trail end. Every site you skip is an action you never get back, and the season only ends when every hiker arrives.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Racing hikers to the trail end. Skipping sites throws away actions, and the season does not end until every hiker arrives anyway.
- Ignoring canteens. Canteens turn water into other rewards, and players who skip them end up holding water they cannot use.
- Forgetting the campfire. Sharing an occupied site is often the best move on the board, and an unlit campfire is a wasted option.
- Buying gear that does not match your target parks. Gear discounts are strong only if they line up with the parks you actually plan to visit.
Advanced Strategy
- Reserve a park when it suits your tokens, even if you cannot afford it yet. Denying it to an opponent is a bonus.
- Use your second hiker to hang back. Keeping one hiker near the start gives you access to sites others have already passed.
- Track which sites the next season adds. The trail lengthens each season, and planning for the new tile changes what you want to hold.
- Photos are worth a point each and never run out. Once the parks you want are gone, they are a steady late source of points.
Variants & House Rules
Parks: Nightfall
An expansion adding a camping module and new cards, for groups who want a little more decision space.
Parks: Wildlife
An expansion that brings wildlife onto the trail as a new resource to collect and score.
Parks (Second Edition)
A 2025 revision with new art by Josh Emrich and Lisk Feng. It folds ideas from both expansions into the base box and rebalances the gear deck.
Video Guides
Loading videos…
Our Verdict
Parks is a calm, handsome game that makes a small idea feel special through its art and its pace. It never asks much of you and rarely punishes a mistake harshly. We recommend it as a relaxed family or couples game, with the Second Edition now the natural version to buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parks good with two players?
Yes. Two and three players is where it plays best; there is enough contention for sites without long waits between turns.
Should I buy the first or second edition?
The Second Edition includes elements of both expansions and has clearer rules. The first edition has the Fifty-Nine Parks poster art, which some players prefer.
Can children play it?
The box says ten and up, but the rules are simple enough for confident eight-year-olds with an adult reading the cards.