Its source is at the foot of the highest mountain in the Harz, the Brocken, in the southern part of the so-called Brockenfeld on the border of Saxony-Anhalt.

Immediately nearby are the sources of the Kalte Bode, the Ecker and the Oder.

The Große Bode flows mainly southwards, on the western slopes of the Wurmberg towards Braunlage.

After the confluence of its headstreams, the Warme Bode flows over the waterfall of the Unterer Bodefall towards Braunlage.

From the state border with Saxony-Anhalt it runs parallel to the B 242 federal road to Tanne.