There's no clearing any path in Darkroot. Even if you do try to clear out some of the more dangerous inhabitants, there are so many of them that sooner or later more will take their place. You're better off just fighting to defend yourself, if necessary. Besides, there's something of a covenant of warriors residing in the woods whose charge is to protect the forest and its inhabitants. Relatively pleasant folk, but they made for troublesome opponents when angered, so I prefer to leave things be.

[They were also led by a talking cat. Lordran is weird.]

I only had business in the forest a handful of times, mostly to retrieve items necessary for my quest, but once I ended up being pulled back through time to save an acquaintance of mine, in a time when it was a kingdom known as Oolacile.