The China Loess Plateau suffers severe soil erosion exacerbated by dry-wet cycles, negatively impacting the ecological environment. While previous studies have examined the effects of these cycles on loess, the specific responses to multiple cycle paths remain incomplete. This study evaluates the effects of four distinct dry-wet cycle paths on hydro-mechanical properties of undisturbed loess. Response surface methodology (RSM) analyzed the interaction of cycle number, cycle amplitude, and lower-bound water content on hydro-mechanical deterioration. An improved degradation model evaluated the impact of multiple cycle paths. Statistical analysis linked crack evolution to hydro-mechanical deterioration, enabling a crack-based regression prediction model. Results show significant hydro-mechanical degradation during the initial six cycles, followed by stabilization. Maximum degradation in cohesion and internal friction angle reached 27.63% and 9.88%, respectively, while the saturated permeability coefficient increased by up to 99.1%. Higher lower-bound water content reduced deterioration, whereas increased amplitude heightened it. Both RSM and degradation models revealed the greater influence of lower-bound water content on deterioration, with a coupling effect among the cycle paths. The degradation model accurately captures cohesive deterioration under multiple paths. Dry-wet cycles increased the crack ratio, length, width, and connectivity, with variations influenced by the specific cycle path. A multivariate regression model effectively related crack parameters to cohesion, internal friction angle, and permeability, demonstrating strong predictive capability. These findings enhance the understanding of dry-wet cycle effects on loess and provide valuable insights for predicting hydro-mechanical deterioration in various hydrological environments.