That depends on what you want the Player to experience. As example if you let the path Open and the path down, through the river, Player Like me will feel that they could be Missing Something If they don’t Go and explore both ways. That is the Natural effect on different ways you can choose and there are many Player that like it.
If you want that the Player Focus more in the narrative then the map, let your game communicate that. Use the Surroundings to tell what is Happening , Block ways, use signs, trees, for example.
For the start it was good and a playable Game is a playable Game, many don’t Finish there projects and the best way to improve is getting more Feedback and playing Game that feel complete to you and looking at it Not Like a Player more Like someone who will Made a game.