Often I don’t worry about path making between outbuildings on our property, but at times like spring when the ground is wet or under certain circumstances like near the septic bed, we have tried to avoid beating a mud path with some pretty unsatisfactory solutions.
Cardboard doesn’t last, stones are more permanent than desirable.
Recently we found a product that provides a cool, non-slippery, solution that protects the integrity of vegetation in heavy traffic areas especially when the ground is unstable. It is called a Single Track Garden Path and consists of 10 foot lengths of track that can be joined together or broken down as required. It can easily be taken up for winter or when ground has stabilized and can be rolled-up for storage.
This cool tool is available at Princess Auto.