Bote Mountain Trail climbs around 6.9 miles up Bote Mountain to the Appalachian Trail, providing access to other trails along the way. Starting at Laurel Creek Road, across from the Schoolhouse Gap Trail, Bote Mountain Trail climbs 1.2 miles to meet the West Prong Trail coming in from the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont. After this, the trail goes a little ways up, meeting Finley Cane Trail on the right. After this, it is a 2.5-mile climb up to where Lead Cove Trail comes in from the right also. Another 1.2 miles up, Bote Mountain Trail meets the Anthony Creek Trail coming in from Cades Cove Campground. After this, the trail switchbacks 1.7 miles, coming out on the Appalachian Trail. From here, hikers can stay at Spence Field by going right, or climb up and visit Rocky Top and Thunderhead Mountains, which offer perhaps the most fantastic views in the whole park.
The history of the Bote Mountain trail can be traced back to the early days of the park. In the 1830s, Isaac Anderson, president of Maryville College, saw a need for a road in the area. According to Russ Manning in his book 100 Hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, it was to be built in order to access mountain communities for education and missionary work. While building the road, Cherokee workers were asked what ridge to go up. Finding an old Cherokee trail, they said, “Vote.” Thinking the workers were naming the ridge, the road became known as “Bote.” Road construction was quickly abandoned, and later a new site was selected in a new found gap crossing into North Carolina. That road is now Newfound Gap Road.