How to Play

Great Western Trail: Second Edition

1-4 players 75-150 min 8.3 Board Game Geek Rating

Cowboys drive cattle herds from Texas to Kansas City via the Great Western Trail, earning money and victory points upon delivery. Players must maintain healthy livestock while strategically utilizing trail buildings and hiring specialized staff—cowboys, craftsmen, and engineers. Success requires clever herd management and maximizing opportunities along the route to accumulate the most victory points and claim victory.

Published 2021

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Place the Extension Board

Position the Extension Board above the base Game Board

Place Town Tiles

Randomly place 6 of the 10 Town Tiles on the spaces on the Extension Board

Place Station Master Tiles

Randomly place 7 of the 11 Station Master Tiles on the spaces on both Boards

Place Neutral Building Tiles

Randomly place the 7 Neutral Building Tiles on the Game Board

Position Job Market Token

Place the Job Market Token on the top dashed circle space on the 2nd row

Place '1' Tiles

Draw 7 '1' Tiles and place them on their appropriate spaces on the Game Board

Place '2' Tiles

Draw 1 '2' Tile and place it beneath the player count sign, continue filling the top row to the right, then repeat on the 2nd row up to the space before the Job Market Token

Fill Foresight Spaces

Fill the 6 Foresight spaces in Kansas City with the indicated numbered Tiles

Optional Cattle Cards

Add either Simmental or Brahman Cards to the Cattle Card deck; if so, add the Orange Market Tile and corresponding Card to the starting Objective Card deck

Prepare Cattle Market

Shuffle Cattle Cards into a facedown Market deck, draw the indicated number based on player count and display underneath the Cattle Market

Prepare Objective Cards

Shuffle the 28 Objective Cards into a facedown deck, draw 4 into a faceup display

Distribute Player Components

Each player takes:

Distribute Starting Resources

Based on turn order, then discard down to 4 cards:

Place Starting Herders

In turn order, place your Herder on any Neutral Building Tile, then proceed to Phase B

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Move Your Herder

Move at least 1 step forward on the Trail, up to your Step Limit

Skip Empty Spaces

Skip over any empty spaces when moving

Share Spaces

Multiple Herders can stop on the same space

Pay Hazard Costs

If passing green or black hands on Hazard or Outlaw Tiles, pay the amount on your Player Board to the bank

Pay Opponent Costs

If hands are on another player's Building, pay that amount to that player instead

Reach Kansas City

If you reach Kansas City, immediately end this Phase

Neutral or Own Buildings

Use any of the Tile's Actions and Risk Actions in any order, OR use 1 single Auxiliary Action

Opponent Buildings or Hazards

Use only 1 single Auxiliary Action

Kansas City Delivery

Complete these 5 steps then return Herder to start:

Gain Money

Gain $1

Cycle Cards

Draw 1 of your Cards, then discard 1 Card

Advance Engine (Paid)

Pay $1, then move your Engine 1 space forward

Place Branchlet (Basic)

Discard 1 value 2 Card, pay $1, then place 1 Branchlet

Retreat for Certificates

Pay $1 and move Engine back 1 space, then move Certificate Marker 1 space down

Retreat to Trash

Gain $1, move Engine back 1 space, then trash 1 Card from hand

Gain More Money

Gain $2

Cycle More Cards

Draw 2 of your Cards, then discard 2 Cards

Advance Engine Further

Pay $2, then move your Engine 2 spaces forward

Place Multiple Branchlets

Discard 2 value 2 Cards, pay $2, then place 2 Branchlets

Retreat for More Certificates

Pay $2 and move Engine back 2 spaces, then move Certificate Marker up to 2 spaces down

Retreat to Trash More

Gain $2, move Engine back 2 spaces, then trash up to 2 Cards from hand

Use Exchange Token

Can be used at ANY point; discard to draw up to 2 Cards, then discard as many Cards as you drew

Place a Building

Choose an unplaced Building and place onto empty Building space or replace an already placed Building; pay indicated $ per Builder used

Replace Building

Deduct replaced Building cost from new one, pay only difference; trash removed Building

Hire a Worker

Choose Worker from Job Market (not from row with Job Market Token), pay hiring cost with modifications; place on leftmost available Player Board space

Use Cattle Market

Acquire Cattle Cards by spending $ based on number of Cowboys; each Cowboy used once; alternatively use 1 Cowboy to add 2 Cards to display

Place a Branchlet

Take from leftmost occupied space of topmost occupied row; place onto free Branchlet space of accessible Town Square

Upgrade Train Station

When stopping at Turnout or placing Branchlet next to Train Station, pay cost and place Disc; may then remove rightmost Worker to acquire Station Master Tile

Play Objective Cards

Choose from faceup display or deck top; may play from hand before Phase A or before/after Phase B actions for immediate action

Refill Hand

Draw up to your hand limit (4, 5, or 6) as indicated on your Player Board