Finley Cane Trail, Lead Cove Trail, and Turkeypen Ridge Trail all depart from the parking area on Laurel Creek Road. Finley Cane is on the south side of the road, and goes off to the left as it follows Laurel Creek Road. You’ll keep close to the road for a little bit before the trail turns away from the road and crosses Sugar Cove Creek via an easy rock hop in most conditions. You’ll be passing under rhododendrons, magnolias, and eventually hemlocks as the forest changes around you.
A muddy horse trail goes off to the left, but that leads back to Laurel Creek Road, where it meets Turkeypen Ridge Trail. Our trail continues straight as it crosses a small creek before starting its climb up the side of Bote Mountain. You’ll enter a rhododendron tunnel that will open and close for about half a mile, providing shade in the hot summer months. Rock hops help cross Laurel Cove Creek and Hickory Branch as the tunnel opens into a hardwood forest.
The last mile of the trail climbs more steadily to the Bote Mountain Trail. You’ll encounter cane in this area, which is the only native form of bamboo in the park.