Let's talk natural dirt paths.

Spooky.

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So, I've decided that I want to have natural dirt paths in at least one of my towns instead of using QR paths or no paths at all. I've seen some insanely beautiful towns with dirt paths and I want to try it myself. However, it seems like it takes a LOT of time and dedication to maintain. However, there are some tips I've seen to help make it easier (such as planting trees, bushes, and flowers on the edges to stop the path from growing wider than you want it to be).

Are there any good tips you have for making and keeping dirt paths?


What do you guys think of dirt paths? Do you have them in your town? If you do, how long did it take you?
 
Build a PWP then demolish it and you'll see dirt path at the spot where you built your PWP
 
If you put down a path the deterioration underneath still happens, so you can put down a path to guide where to walk where you want the paths to be, or use just a random tile her and there so you know where to run, and then just go ham and run all up and down it several times a day. it takes a really long time but it looks like it's worth it for really nice natural towns.
 
The putting patterns down first is a really good idea. It's what I've done ready for when the snow goes. Keeping running over the patterns and you should end up with a really good looking dirt path once you remove it.
 
i loooove dirt paths, I'm planning to put them in one of my towns too. definitely not looking forward to the effort I'm going to have to put into them, but I think it's worth it. this is a guide I found that I'll be using when I finish mine, (her dream town is well worth a visit anyway, it's gorgeous) so maybe it can help you too c:​
 
I love the look of them and I plan on doing it for Thistle! I'll let you know how it goes. One thing I've considered is that I want a lot of windy single square paths which will be tough to run fast. I think I will put bushes at corners so when I hurl my self into them I won't go over (like a stump haha)
 
I think everybody who's commented in this thread has gave you pretty good tips so far, but I just wanted to let you know the thing about having dirt paths is that when it gets to winter they'll dissapear, so it might be a little hard to maintain. Towns with dirt paths are incredibly pretty though so I wish you the best of luck in creating yours. :)
 
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I've been inspired as well and will try it for Windia.
I'm not sure if it helps, but when Isabelle or a Villager is following you to go to your place, or their place or for PWP, i usually make them run up and down a path with me a few times before I go to my destination.

:D
 
I've had paths down but since it's winter, I guess there are no dirt spots. I guess I should try doing a pwp thing but that would cost a fortune. And player houses would be too wide I think.

- - - Post Merge - - -

i loooove dirt paths, I'm planning to put them in one of my towns too. definitely not looking forward to the effort I'm going to have to put into them, but I think it's worth it. this is a guide I found that I'll be using when I finish mine, (her dream town is well worth a visit anyway, it's gorgeous) so maybe it can help you too c:​

Ooh yeah, I've seen her post. I actually asked her a question about if lucky clovers stop the grass from wearing down or not. I'm still not 100% sure on it though.

I decided to line my paths with trees/bushes/flowers to keep the dirt from spreading further than I want it to. Just have to wait until the snow is gone :(
 
I would build a barrier with bushes for people to stay in and just run alot only there and you should see something forming.
 
From my experience, you should atleast play once a day to maintain the path (unless you TT, then I suggest TTing to each day instead of skipping days!). Rain & snow makes the grass grow back quicker but again, if you play everyday and just run/walk where you want the path to be, it'll stay a dirt path. You can even maintain it just from walking about from what I remember, I used to have tons of dirt under my flowers due to me walking away from the paths a bit. And about the lucky clovers, I have tons on my dirt path and they do not encourage grass growth! (I think in my dream town I have clovers with no grass underneath). As long as you walk over the clovers, the grass underneath will still not grow/turn into dirt :)
 
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