The race starts in the boat basin at Ray Wayside Park,  which is located east of Ocala where SR40 crosses the Ocklawaha River.  (NOTE THAT THE SHORT COURSE HAS CHANGED FOR 2023.)  Short course paddlers will make a left turn exiting the boat basin and paddle approximately ½ mile downstream past the confluence with the Ocklawaha River to the Hwy 40 bridge.  At the bridge, short course paddlers will turn around, paddle back upstream on the Silver River past the boat basin entrance and around the first island, then back to the boat basin for a total distance of 5.0 miles.  Long course paddlers will turn right exiting the basin, and paddle upstream to round Monkey Island and return for a total distance of 9.1 miles.