when I was in school I really wanted to make a horror game and one of the things was footprints like this that follow you when you aren't looking and the grass or other material dissolves into the entity. I spent weeks trying to make the grass vanishing effect but I never managed to make what I had in my head. Grass was also simply too expensive on the hardware available.
this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2026
269 points (99.3% liked)
Desire Paths
2803 readers
289 users here now
Desire paths Desire paths can be paths created as a consequence of erosion caused by human or animal foot-fall or traffic. The paths usually represent the shortest or most easily navigated routes between origins and destinations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desire_path
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
That sounds so cool though
This can't possibly happen naturally, can it? It has to be purposeful or artificial... Right?!
It's probably a hill that gets muddy. Everyone walks in the same spot because they've been flattened out like stairs and you slip less. It does happen naturally over time and many feet.
Totally fair question. It definitely happened naturally is the TL;DR. Edit: pic below from Google maps.
There's a section of tarmac not in the picture where I took it and a path leading to the right at the top just below the bushes. Those steps happen near the corner of the tarmac. Myself and my kids have used them countless times and always followed the steps.
The alternative route is off about 50 metres to the left and a slow incline followed by a much longer walk.
The incline you're looking at is steep enough that any kind of foothold is going to be taken by the next person... And so it happened. :)
I've had this one in my camera roll since forever and it came up in a memory. There's been a fair bit of building work done there recently which I vaguely think may have damaged or possibly destroyed the steps but I'll check.
I'd bet money it's on Google maps but I don't really want to dox myself.
It is visible on Google maps 😁
