/r/DesirePath

Photograph via snooOG

Dedicated to the paths that humans prefer, rather than the paths that humans create.

Dedicated to the paths that humans prefer

Rather than the paths that humans create


Guidelines

Posts that do not follow these guidelines may be subject to removal at mod/community discretion.

Every post is required to be a picture of a path, discussion on the paths, or otherwise related to paths. (A path here shall be an area used to get between two or more points, the path must be used by a living thing).

  • Worn tracks don't necessarily constitute a desire path.
  • Avoid posts of animals in zoos.
  • Try to ensure your path is an apparent disregard for designated paths.

From Wikipedia

A desire path (also known as a desire line, social trail, goat track or bootleg trail) can be a path created as a consequence of foot or bicycle traffic. The path usually represents the shortest or most easily navigated route between an origin and destination. The width of the path and its erosion are indicators of the amount of use the path receives. Desire paths emerge as shortcuts where constructed ways take a circuitous route, or have gaps, or are lacking entirely.

Nature Conservation and Desire Paths:

Are you a hiking fan? Do you enjoy your national parks for their natural beauty?

Please consider the following: the use of these paths in nature conservation areas should be discouraged due to the harm to the vegetation. Additionally, people should stick to the predetermined trails for their safety—just because a path is there doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Desire paths in developed urban areas generally don't cause disruption to the ecosystem the same way they would in conservation sites.

PSA by u/ibettershutup


You are encouraged to find desire paths of your community and post pictures of them here.


Related Subreddits

/r/DesirePath

361,760 Subscribers

30

Golf course trying to fight the desire path

5 Comments
2025/02/01
13:15 UTC

0

Not sure if this has been posted before but saw this on Twitter/X

0 Comments
2025/02/01
11:40 UTC

9

Cheeky little desire path at Dreamworld, Australia

I don't know what they expected

0 Comments
2025/02/01
10:17 UTC

24

Desire path near the hospital

0 Comments
2025/02/01
09:00 UTC

3,787

The people yearn for a sidewalk

44 Comments
2025/01/31
18:50 UTC

379

An extra step out of the way is one too many for most

6 Comments
2025/01/31
09:45 UTC

258

Path > Stairs

4 Comments
2025/01/31
05:19 UTC

146

Best route round the back of a house, Glossop

4 Comments
2025/01/30
21:29 UTC

139

Just your average desire path

1 Comment
2025/01/30
14:13 UTC

61

The path between some offices and their lunch restaurants.

2 Comments
2025/01/30
02:43 UTC

157

The snow reveals what the grass tries to hide.

2 Comments
2025/01/29
23:45 UTC

1,322

Compacted snow takes longer to melt, revealing most commons paths across plaza

Not exactly a desire path, but I thought this sub would appreciate this. It snowed a few weeks ago and this plaza never got shoveled. The snow people walked on was compacted down into ice, while most of the snow was untouched. The untouched snow has since fully melted away, but the ice is taking much longer to melt. This has revealed the paths people took during and after the snowstorm to get around the light pole and across the plaza.

4 Comments
2025/01/29
20:48 UTC

295

Corners be damned

1 Comment
2025/01/29
10:38 UTC

40

Jack rabbits and coyotes create their own path in Borrego Springs, CA

Jack rabbits and coyotes create their own path in Borrego Springs, CA

4 Comments
2025/01/29
06:07 UTC

62

Desire path between a high school and a light rail station

0 Comments
2025/01/29
05:26 UTC

73

A very understandable desired path

2 Comments
2025/01/28
21:32 UTC

28

Persistence is Key

Every night, some poor soul of a construction worker closes this fence. Reinforcing it with cables, cable ties, even proper clamps.

Every morning, some genious walks to the SBahn, armed with a wrench and a wire cutter and opens the fence anew.

This cycle is beautifully and absurdly bound to repeat untill the construction of my future favourite regional train stop, Bahnhof Köpenick, is done.

8 Comments
2025/01/28
20:14 UTC

94

Snowy Desire Path on my Campus

2 Comments
2025/01/28
19:29 UTC

197

Essex, UK.

1 Comment
2025/01/28
14:39 UTC

150

Desire path through the heath in Grenå, Denmark

2 Comments
2025/01/28
08:43 UTC

73

Desire path prius part 2 (good ending)

2 Comments
2025/01/28
01:43 UTC

102

Campus desire path

4 Comments
2025/01/27
20:58 UTC

397

Snowy desire paths on campus

2 Comments
2025/01/27
19:17 UTC

12

Snow reveals people's desires.

This park has no sidewalks bordering it, it looks like it may have at one time but over the last 20 years it's been my cities policy that if a sidewalk was in need of replacing and there was one on the other side of the street they would just remove it.

0 Comments
2025/01/27
15:39 UTC

156

A muddy and wet desire path in England.

5 Comments
2025/01/27
09:53 UTC

241

Smol lil fella

6 Comments
2025/01/26
22:05 UTC

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