Every trail you hike was a mess of branches until somebody walked it enough times. Paths are made, not found.

Routes look obvious once they exist, which is why everyone arriving later assumes they were always there. What you walk on is the accumulated effect of people going the same way repeatedly, mostly without realising they were making anything. The first passes were slow and awkward. None of the current ease was available at the start.

If there is no clear route to what you want, stop hunting for the one you must have missed. Go the way that makes sense to you and go it repeatedly. The path forms behind you.