goat paths
Narrow hillside routes
Goat paths are narrow, winding trails—the kind goats create on steep hillsides by repeatedly traveling the same route.
The term extends to any informal path worn by foot traffic rather than planned construction: We followed goat paths through the woods behind the campus.
In software and business contexts, goat paths describe the workarounds users create when official systems don't meet their needs—revealing how people actually work versus how designers intended them to.
- trailsMarked outdoor paths
- game trailAnimal-made pathway
- mountainTall natural landmass
- switchbacksSharp reversing trail turns
- rockyCovered with stones
loose rock · steep · steep climb · narrow · winding · hooves · sure footing · scramble · cliffs · cliff edge · rugged · sheep · alpine · high altitude · thin air · treacherous · dusty · worn
- historic routesancient roads, trade routes, merchant routes, caravan routes, pilgrimage routes
- backcountry routesfire roads, jeep trails, logging roads, forest roads, mule trails
- Ikariavillages, thermal baths, local festivals, blue zone, longevity