Official Trekking The National Parks Rules

Last Updated on November 18, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Trekking the National Parks is a board game that celebrates the beauty and wonder of the United States’ national parks. In the game, players compete to visit as many parks as possible and collect park cards, while also enjoying educational information about each park. Here are the basic rules:

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Trekking The National Parks game box

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How to Play Trekking The National Parks

For Ages: 10 to Adult
Players: 2 to 6
Playtime: About 45 minutes

Game Overview

In Trekking the National Parks, your goal is to earn the most Victory Points (VP). Players collect points by visiting National Parks, collecting Park Cards, and completing Secret Goal Cards. Each player begins with a Secret Goal Card that provides additional points for collecting specific Park Cards by the end of the game.

A player’s turn consists of two main steps:

  1. Trekking
  2. Park Action

Components

  • 1 Game Board
  • 1 First Player Marker
  • 6 Player Movers
  • 6 Player Camps
  • 6 Camp Tokens
  • 105 Park Cards (5 of each National Park)
  • 12 Bonus Goal Cards
  • 112 Stone Tokens
  • 1 Trekker Token
  • 1 First Player Token

Setup

  1. Place the game board in the center.
  2. Place the First Player Token in the center.
  3. Place the Trekker Token on the starting circle.
  4. Make a pile of Stone Tokens near the board (general supply).
  5. Each player chooses a Player Mover and matching Player Camp.
  6. Each player receives:
    • 1 Camp Token
    • 1 Secret Goal Card (keep it hidden)
    • 6 Park Cards (keep hidden from other players)
  7. Shuffle the remaining Park Cards and place them face down on the Park Card deck space.
  8. Deal 5 Park Cards face up in the Park Card Line-Up.
  9. Place each Player Camp at the entrance of their Start/Home Area.
  10. Each player draws a Park Card; the highest card value determines the first player (re-draw in case of tie). The first player takes the First Player Marker.
Trekking the National Parks board game with a map of the United States and wooden game pieces. The board shows different landmarks and national parks, including the Badlands, Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, and Hot Springs. There are four wooden pawns on the board: a red pawn and a blue pawn near the START space, a black pawn on Rocky Mountain, and a brown bear-shaped pawn on Great Sand Dunes. There are also small, colored circular pieces, with a red one on Badlands and yellow ones near Voyageurs, on Hot Springs, and near the Gateway Arch.

Gameplay

Play proceeds clockwise starting with the first player.

1. Trekking

On your turn, move your Player Mover by playing Park Cards from your hand. The total value of the cards played equals the number of spaces you can move.

Rules for Trekking:

  • You must play at least one card to move.
  • You can move to any space except:
    • A space with another player’s Camp
    • Opponent’s Start Area
    • National Park with another player’s mover
  • You cannot pass through an opponent’s Start Area.
  • If you land on a space with another player, they move to the nearest unoccupied space in the direction you came from.
  • You can end your trek on:
    • A National Park
    • A space with the Trekker Token
    • A space with a Camp Token (to claim bonus)
  • You cannot end your trek on another player’s Camp.

Tip: Play multiple cards strategically to reach high-value spaces or bonuses.

2. Park Action

After trekking, take a Park Action based on where you landed:

If on a National Park:

  • Take the matching National Park Card from the Line-Up.
  • Collect any Stone Tokens on the card and add one Stone Token to your supply.
  • Place a Camp on the National Park (if none is present).
  • Take an available Bonus Goal Card.
  • Draw cards to refill your hand to 6 Park Cards.

If on a space with a Camp Token:

  • Choose either 3 Stone Tokens or draw 3 Park Cards.

If on a regular space (no Park or Camp Token):

  • Take 1 Stone Token.

Special Spaces

  • Start Area: Only place your Camps here; cannot enter opponents’ Start Areas.
  • Trekker Token: Collect it and place it in your Start Area.
  • National Park: Collect Park Card, place Camp, and take a Bonus Goal Card.
  • Camp Token: Take the token and place it in your Home Area.

Scoring

At game end, players earn Victory Points for:

  • Each National Park Card collected (1 VP each)
  • Sets of 3 National Park Cards of the same color (3 VP per set)
  • Bonus Goal Cards
  • Each Camp placed on a National Park
  • Each Stone Token (1 VP each)
  • Secret Goal Cards

End of Game

The game ends when a player has no more Park Cards. Remaining players take one final turn. The player with the most Victory Points wins.

Trekking the National Parks offers a blend of strategy, exploration, and education, making it an enjoyable and enriching experience for players of all ages. With its beautiful artwork and thematic gameplay, the game captures the spirit of adventure and discovery found in America’s national parks.

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