An improved method is provided for switching paths at a network routing device residing in a multicast distribution environment. The method includes: maintaining a plurality of predetermined path sets in a data store associated with the network routing device, where each path set corresponds to a given network condition and defines a path for each data transmission session; receiving a message indicative of a current network condition at the network routing device; selecting a path set from the plurality of predetermined path sets, where the selected path set correlates to the current network condition; and configuring the network routing device in accordance with the selected path set.