Methods, systems, and devices for relay path selection in wireless communications are described, where multiple relay paths are available between a source and a destination. A first node (e.g., a source node or destination node) may determine reference signal resources for a set of reference signals to be transmitted between the first node and a second node through a corresponding relay path of a set of relay paths. The first node may receive the set of reference signals measure one or more parameters for each reference signal. Alternatively, the first node may transmit the set of reference signals and receive an indication of one or more measured parameters from the second node. The first node may determine a set of end-to-end metrics for the set of relay paths, and select a relay path for communications with the second node based on the set of end-to-end metrics.