Hello Permies- I'm looking for ideas for walkable groundcovers. I have an arid (13" annual rain), short season and I'm looking for something that might grow well on low traffic open paths and around stones on stone paths. I'll be trying White Dutch Clover but I'm not sure if it will like my dry soil. I may also try some Kinnnikinnick.
Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) might be good and is edible as well. It seems to do really well here in my zone 7 garden June July and August when it is very hot and dry here (Bulgaria). Also plantain ( Plantago major L. ) is quite drought resistant and grows/spreads quite easily. I find that the spires don't develop as easily when it gets walked on, which may be of benefit to you? Plaintain has some medicinal value too, I believe.
Lamb's ear makes a luxurious walking surface for bare feet on low-traffic paths and needs very little care or water. If you mow it (with a reel mower, no fuel necessary) before it gets tall enough to bloom, you won't have to worry about stepping on bees. It's very very easy to spread, just let a plant go to seed and drop the stalk on the ground where you want it to grow.