Archived Outdoors
Bote Mountain Trail partially reopen
A 2.9-mile section of the Bote Mountain Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is now open to hikers for the first time since Sept. 24.
The popular trail provides access to the Appalachian Trail near Spence Field from Cades Cove. It was closed for extensive rehabilitation that involved mechanized equipment and hand tools. Park crews repaired and installed new drainage structures, repaired more than 240 feet of trail tread and removed rocks, roots and brush.
The trail will remain closed to horseback riders through March 2 to ensure the sustainability of improvements during the freeze-thaw cycle of winter. The trail crew will continue to monitor the repairs during this partial reopening.
