Using Landscape Steps and Walkways to Connect Patios, Pools, Entrances and More

When you own a property, you want to be able to use the outdoor living spaces to their fullest. The last thing you want is for them to be difficult to traverse. But that’s exactly what can happen if you have steep slopes in your yard.

In some cases, these grade transitions can be dealt with by a professional analyzing the grade of the site and creating a landscape design that gradually transitions elevations from one area to another with sloped mulch beds, lawn areas, or even paver stone ramps (especially helpful for aging homeowners). However, there are some properties that will require a different approach.

Fortunately, landscape steps and walkways are a solution that can connect your outdoor living areas in a way that makes them comfortable and easy to navigate even with major grade fluctuations.

Landscape stairs and walkways are ultimately a very important aspect of your landscape and should not be an afterthought. While there are a lot of walkway companies in Lancaster and Reading, PA who might just put in a cookie-cutter path or set of stairs, finding a company that will take a thoughtful approach to the design of these features, and incorporate them in a way that they flow with the overall design of your space, will be key to completing the overall look of your beautiful outdoor living area. 

Maintain the Natural Look of the Space 

If you have a property that incorporates the use of boulders, natural stone, a lot of native plant material, or other “natural looks,” then you want to be sure to maintain that feel with the addition of any stairs or walkways you incorporate. Plopping a concrete walkway or set of stairs into your natural landscape is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

Sometimes natural stairways can have voids as the stones don’t fit together as precisely as man-made pavers. These voids can be backfilled with crushed stone or even some layers of topsoil with plants such as a fern stuck here or there for aesthetics. These are the kinds of details that can make a big difference in the finished product.

Good Design and Construction Matter 

Even in natural landscapes, good design and construction are critical for your walkways and stairs. In this stepping stone pathway through plantings, for instance, the average walkway contractors in Reading or Lancaster, PA may have just laid these atop of the mulch.

But that would not have given the walkway the solid support it really needed to stay nice and level and it would have become vulnerable to shifting and settling and possibly becoming a trip hazard. Instead, this walkway has a solid base underneath supporting the entire path.

Make it Comfortable to Traverse 

How it feels to walk a pathway or set of stairs is, unfortunately, another afterthought with the average walkway contractor. But these are important details. Clustering several steps at a time so that it flows with one’s natural gait makes your outdoor stairways comfortable to traverse.



We’ve all been on awkward stairways in which the length in between steps was not well-thought-out. Simply put, it’s annoying, which is the last feeling you want people to have when experiencing your beautiful outdoor living area.

The width of walkways is also very important. As a general rule of thumb, a walkway should be wide enough for two people to walk side by side.That’s approximately 4 to 6 feet.

Of course, sometimes you only have so much space to work with. If you have a narrow walkway, some optical illusion can be utilized to make it appear wider by tapering it at the entrance.

An RLA can also make sure that outdoor living areas are appropriately spaced distance-wise from one another so that you can still see your kids swimming while you’re in the outdoor kitchen, but you’re not right on top of the pool. An RLA will ensure that your space is used wisely.

Don’t Overdo a Curve 

A gentle curve can add some appeal to your walkway, but don’t overdo it. If it’s made too curvy, your walkway can become frustrating to navigate and that detracts from its functionality. Curves should not be forced but rather should have a soft and natural flow to them.



A thoughtful design approach treats walkways like a “journey” to your destination. However, you don’t want that journey to take you far out of your way. You just want it to be as pleasant as possible getting from the starting to the ending point.

It All Must Come Together 

Your property may require multiple walkways and landscape steps incorporated throughout the space and it will be important that it all comes together seamlessly. Functionally speaking, these features help connect your various areas like your patio, pool, pavilion, or your home’s entrance, so that you can easily get from one space to another. Aesthetically speaking, landscape steps and walkways can also make the space look connected and complete, making them an essential finishing touch.

Whether your property need steps or can allow for more gradual grade transitions (like ramps for aging property owners), finding a landscape contractor who will properly shoot grades and elevations before even starting the design process is essential. This is something that a Registered Landscape Architect will explore with you before even beginning that process.



At Earth, Turf, & Wood, we have designed and built many landscape steps and walkways over the years, knowing full well that these are not an afterthought or a small detail, but that these features can really make or break a space. Walkways and steps make your space easily traversable, therefore making it more functional. But they are also the icing on the cake when it comes to aesthetic appeal. The last thing you want is a beautiful space plagued by ugly walkways and stairs.