also: ひとあと
noun
signs of human habitation; human traces
Refers to evidence that people have been in a place, such as footprints, paths, or remnants. Often used in negative contexts like 人跡未踏 (untrodden by humans) or 人跡まれ (sparsely populated).
その島には人跡がまったくなかった。
There were no signs of human habitation on that island.
人跡未踏の地を探検する。
Explore a land untrodden by humans.
人気 (ひとけ) also means 'sign of people' but is more common in everyday speech, while 人跡 is more literary and often used in fixed compounds.
Compound of 人 (human) and 跡 (trace, mark). The reading じんせき uses the on'yomi of both characters, while ひとあと uses the kun'yomi.