About Bote Mountain Trail
Bote Mountain Trail is the steady, wide way up to Spence Field, one of the park's best high balds. It begins on Laurel Creek Road near Schoolhouse Gap and climbs about 6.8 miles to the Appalachian Trail, gaining roughly 3,200 feet. The NPS Finley Cane, Bote Mountain and Lead Cove loop is a 6.9-mile shorter route that uses part of the lower trail.
The hike
The lower trail climbs an old roadbed through hardwood forest, then the grade picks up as you reach the higher ridges. Spence Field opens to a grassy bald with views into Tennessee and North Carolina. From there Rocky Top is a short side trip along the AT, and the Spence Field area is popular for summer wildflowers. A day trip to Spence Field is a long, hard push.
When to go
Late spring and early summer are lovely on the bald. Fall color is bright but this trail is far from the road, so start early. Winter can be icy near the top.
Getting there
From Townsend, follow Laurel Creek Road toward Cades Cove to the Schoolhouse Gap area. Entry to the park is free, but a parking tag is required if you park more than 15 minutes: $5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year. America the Beautiful and other federal passes do not count, and the tag has to be displayed in the vehicle.
Know before you go
Pets are not allowed. Carry water and layers; the top is much cooler and windier. Overnight trips need a backcountry permit.
Pair it with
Other hikes in the same part of the park:
- Abrams Falls: a 5-mile round trip to a 25-foot waterfall
- Cades Cove Nature Trail: an easy loop of about 0.8 miles
- Rich Mountain Loop: a strenuous circuit of about 8.5 miles above the cove
Planning and safety
Plan on a long day and pack accordingly: more water than seems reasonable, real food, a warm layer, a rain shell and a headlamp. Start at first light if you can, and turn around if the weather or your energy changes.
Cell service is spotty across much of the park, so download a map ahead of time and tell someone where you are headed. Stay on the trail, keep dogs and other pets on the few trails where they are allowed, and give wildlife plenty of room. Trail conditions are posted on the park's closures page.
Good to know
- How long is Bote Mountain Trail?
- Bote Mountain Trail is 6.8 miles one way, with about 3,200 feet of climbing. It is rated strenuous.
- Are dogs allowed on this trail?
- No. Inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, dogs are allowed only on the Gatlinburg Trail and the Oconaluftee River Trail.
- Do I need a parking tag to hike here?
- A Park It Forward parking tag ($5 a day, $15 a week or $40 a year) is required for any vehicle parked more than 15 minutes inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Entry is free, and federal passes such as America the Beautiful do not replace the tag.
