A method for routing data traffic in a communication network includes decoding, by a source node, an Internet protocol (IP) data packet to determine a destination node. A routing table for the destination node is retrieved. The routing table identifies a plurality of next-hop nodes associated with a corresponding plurality of routing paths to the destination node. A plurality of saturation metrics corresponding to the plurality of routing paths are determined using the routing table. Each of the plurality of saturation metrics is indicative of data traffic saturation along a corresponding one of the plurality of routing paths. A routing path is selected from the plurality of routing paths based on the plurality of saturation metrics. The IP data packet is forwarded to a next-hop node in the selected routing path.