I usually take the path from Riverwood up over the mountains past Helgen and down the otherside into the Rift.

But it depends on where I am when I "need" to get there. The most direct route is from Riften I believe.

Travelling to Riften and then heading west seems to be the shortest route.

For those who want to walk all the way there, the Helgen route also is a great option.

I don't believe I've ever seen that mod before. It looks very nice. Much nicer, actually, than Morrowind's Levitation. I will definitely give this mod a try the next time I play a mage. Thank you for this link.

South. I like the snowy pass by Haemar's Shame.

This for me. So glad I found this path in one of my first playthroughs.

First character who had the quest, just went from Whiterun straight over the mountain in his way and had already been to the throat of the world before he found Ivarstead. Next one went around the bottom side before she actually had the quest, she went back to Helgen to investigate things and kept going in that direction and eventually ended up at Riften. The third character went from Whiterun around the top side past the towers.

The fourth character I do not think has been to Ivarstead yet, but she is at Riften, took a carriage there to find some interesting work. Fifth is still wandering around in the wilds.

I usually go through helgen and the mountain pass. I feel roleplay wise the game wants me to go the long way past the tower and snapleg cave and all that but I'd have to stop and sleep at some point but the only place to do that is darkwater pass and I don't like having to steal someone's bedroll.

I've done all three, but I like heading west from Riften to pick up the ingredients River Betty and Nirnroot .

I've noticed that thalmor patrols always seem to spawn on the mountain pass between Riverwood and Iverstad. I like that route for killing thalmor.

I think the most scenic route though is from Whiterun, across the giant tree thats crossing the gorge with the bandit sitting on it.

The Riften route which is more direct as I mentioned before, seems to have the most bandits and what not trying to keep me from getting there.

I have yet to find this lone bandit, where is this log bridge at?

I don't think I've seen it either. I've been on a bit of a Skyrim burnout so I haven't played in a few days, and suddenly I'm thinking about a mage that might need creating here in the next few minutes. Love it when something on the forums inspires me to play!

Its hard to describe the exact location and I don't have a pic of the location from the map point of view. Its not on any path. Its a way of crossing from one side of the gorge to the other. You can see it if your coming from Iverstad to Whiterun in reverse. I walked past it a lot before I realized it was there.

Maybe someone has a map view?

To find that tree bandit, follow the path up from Lost Knife Hideout, you'll see it over a waterfall.

Oh I think I know what log now. Funny cuz I've walked past there a million times but never paid it much attention. Thanks guys I love finding little treats like this.

Tis here:

http://i42.tinypic.com/2hdmtrs.jpg

its fun if you have unrelenting force and shout the bandit off. I never did see where he landed.

I take the Riften route

Fast Travel.

I went through the other side of the mountain and took a swim for a while to get to Iverstead and then I went up to High Hrothgar

I like that path, very quick and only have to deal with one troll, the nearby wispmother has, thankfully, always left me alone.

So you only go DOWN that path? Not up?

And the thing with followers - I always have at least one follower, so I usually only go where they can follow easily. Occasionally, I go down the mountain, use Become Ethereal and jump down to Riverwood, but then I might just as well FT there and have my follower with me, instead of shortcutting and then have to wait.

there is a shortcut from whiterun stormcloak camp to ivarstead

I get there by horse ( from Whiterun)