To make a sturdy base for your path, a couple of layers of material are necessary. Fill the trench with 3 inches of small crushed stone. Level the layer as best you can, and then walk over it a few times to pack it down. Next, it is a good idea to put landscape fabric over the crushed stone layer. It will act as both a filter for sediment as well as a barrier to weeds.
Landscape fabric is available at garden centers and nurseries.
Be sure that it is wide enough to accommodate the full width of your path. Finish off the base by laying an inch of sand or stone dust on top of the landscape fabric, again leveling it off as much as possible, being mindful to continue to keep a slight slope. There are many ways to arrange stones in a path depending on what shapes and sizes you have to work with. It is relatively easy to use a mason s chisel and hammer to shape and trim stones for a better fit. As a general rule, put larger stones on the outside of the path, and save the smaller stones for the inside.