DIY Gravel Walkway Steps: 1. Lay out garden hoses to represent the shape of the 3-foot-wide path. 2. Use shovel and edger to cut alongside the hoses to mark the walkway onto the ground; remove hoses when done. 3. Dig out 4 to 6 inches of topsoil from within the pathway area. 4. Cut any roots you encounter with loppers.