According to the investigation by the Nara Prefectural Board of Education, the locals usually did not call the road 'Kohechi,' instead of it, particularly in Nosegawa Village, they called it 'Koya-michi' or 'Koya-kaido' after Mt. Koya (Temple), particularly in Totsukawa Village, they called it 'Kumano-michi' or 'Kumano-kaido' after Kumano (Shrines), presumably the road reflected local people's strong beliefs not only in Kumano Shrines but also in Mt. Koya Temple and in Daishi (higher priests).
また、奈良県教育委員会の調査報告によれば、小辺路の名は地元ではあまり用いられず、高野山や熊野に由来する「高野道」「高野街道」（野迫川村内）ないし「熊野道」「熊野街道」（十津川村内）と呼ばれることが多く、高野山ないし大師信仰との結びつきの強さも指摘できよう。