1. A method for evaluation of optical paths in optical networks, the method comprising: based on a matrix M including optical reachability information for nodes in an optical network, generating sets of optical paths between a source node and a destination node, and wherein the optical paths include a minimum number of regenerators between the source node and the destination node; generating path cost information for the sets of optical paths, wherein the path cost information includes cost metric information for the sets of optical paths; based on the path cost information, calculating node cost information for each node associated with the optical paths to the destination node; generating a hierarchical guided search graph including the nodes associated with the sets of optical paths, optical path groups comprising optical paths between common nodes, the path cost information, and the node cost information; based on the hierarchical guided search graph, determining a lowest cost optical path between the source node and the destination node; and transmitting, to nodes that comprise the lowest cost optical path, communication via a signaling protocol to establish a network service along the lowest cost optical path.