I really like this, Paul! 
The smoke isn’t exactly the environmental conditions we hope for but it does provide us with a sort of “Simulated” fog look and it’s there so why not take advantage of it!
I like the fact that the road isn’t in use and that it provides us with a nice lead-in line into the scene.
A river or a stream would have been more pleasing than an abandoned road but it doesn’t always work out the way we want as photographers.
Personally, I like trails whether they are manmade or animal made and I think the reason is that it provides me with an easy mental way to travel through the scene on foot.
I like images of nature without trails as well but in the end, shoot what “You” like!
Don’t be too concerned about what others seem to want, it’s your vision and your experience, I’ll be happy to go along for the ride either way (so to speak)!
The only thing that bothers me about this image is the tree on the left that’s leaning inward, it probably is that way in real life but for me, I like to straighten them up as long as it doesn’t distort the main part of the scene much.
I like to use the Warp tool in Ps (Transform>Warp), then use the top corner points to adjust the tree orientation, then use the associated handles to adjust the central portions. This method greatly reduces the effects on the main or lower portion of the image.
I also like the idea of replacing the muddy and rocky looking area in the lower left portion of the image next to the old road just to clean it up a bit and that part is also very much subjective.
That part wasn’t a distraction at all, it just seemed like a good idea to me since I was already in Ps.
For my own images I like to refer to such edits and adjustments as: “Artistic Fine Tuning”
If I were an actual artist that uses paint and canvas, this is the way I would have painted it.
I’m not an artist so the best I can do is use the tools I have access to so I can come as close as I can to my vision while still maintaining as much of the original scene as possible.
I hope that made sense and I hope you don’t mind that I imposed my thoughts on your image.
Very nice image and I must add that it is very inviting even with the smoke.
Well done, Paul!!
