I also feel reminded of a pokemon-style forest.
But my forest design was also inspred by these games, I admit. xD
I like the idea with a removeabe blockade, but destroying trees is a bit unfitting for the story I'm planning to make... I'll use this idea, just that you have to find a small stone and a large branche to build a lever to move larger stones out of your way.
P.S. I just got this ides while writing the response.