Well, I am sure cement does not help with drainage. River rocks usually do as long as there is nothing impermeable under them.

River rocks as a landscape topping does nothing for drainage. It is just an aesthetic choice.

If the soil underneath the rock is sloped, water will flow across the top of soil (just as it would without the rock topping). Or when rock fills a trench, where the trench is sloped to somewhere, the water from the soil will enter the trench and flow according to the slope of the trench (just as it would without the rock fill).

A concrete surface, if sloped correctly, will direct surface water to where you desire. That doesn't account for what happens when the water reaches the edge, or the groundwater under it.

So in general neither a rock topping nor concrete flatwork is used for drainage in and of themselves.

Ok so in other words either voice I make I need to make sure that there is a slight slope to direct the water away rom my house?

We had river rocks with cast in place concrete pavers on the back of our house. It makes a nice looking path and water easily goes through the rocks to the soil beneath. If you make a solid concrete path where will the water go?

We have poured in place pavers coupled with river rock alongside & between the pavers. The river rock acts almost like a sponge, has worked for us. I think the key is to have a pretty thick layer of them.

Yes the soil underneath any river rock topping needs to be sloped down and away from the house. Slope the soil 6" down over 10' (or interpolate 3" over your 5') which is actually code. You can then place river rock, any other type of stone, mulch, grass, etc.

Again, surface water goes through the rock via gravity to the soil below, then the water will travel where the soil directs it.

For any hard surface like concrete or pavers, the installers will slope it down and away about 1/4" per foot which is also code.

With the apparent heavy circulation through here, something more functional than walking on river rock might be better. Whether that should be a concrete sidewalk matching the other side, pavers, or more stepping stones, that should be a bigger decision in relation to the rest of the yard than just picking something on the whim of a particular day's choices.

Here is what the other side of my yard looks like plants need some trimming but you get the picture. I was originally thinking of putting a concrete path to make it easier to walk back and forth between the front and back yard but putting it just as pictured with the River rock along the edge of the house

Instead of concrete right up to the edge of the house. Either way I would like to have it slightly sloped to allow water to drain away from the house

@rddee ….. i have the almost identical, on my side yard, to what you pictured …. a concrete path bordered by river rock ( beach rock here ). As the song says….” it never rains in So California but when it does, it pours”. Happened yesterday, lol,, there was no water pooling anywhere, front or back.

Ok that’s good to know thanks