The term “desire path” is new to me. Merriam-Webster defines it as:

an unplanned route or path (such as one worn into a grassy surface by repeated foot traffic) that is used by pedestrians in preference to or in the absence of a designated alternative (such as a paved pathway)

I went down a whole rabbit hole of architecture choices both embracing desire paths (paving the chosen routes in an attractive manner), and rejecting desire paths (deliberate right angles and tempting grassy stretches with nasty little signs).

I have ventured back into my woods after my achilles tendon tear a year ago. My paths are mostly traversable especially where the critters have kept up use. They need a good trim, but I was surprised how well I could negotiate the way. The path pictured below didn’t start as a critter desire path, but was forged with the sweep of a motorized trimmer five years ago. The critters like it though.