The head race course is on the Grand River in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The race is rowed upstream and is a buoyed course. The ~3 km downstream row to the start serves as a warm-up. Crews will launch heading downsteam and follow the West shoreline to the start area.   Returning crews will also be following the West Shoreline back to the docks. The course start line is about 250m upstream from the Ann street bridge with the starter  located on the East bank of the river. The course heads upstream, bends approximately 45 degrees to starboard before bending back to port to pass under a series of two bridges (I-96 and North Park Street). For crews rowing the shorter distance (3.6k) the finish area is near a gray shack on the west shore, prior to the launch docks; crews rowing the longer distance (5.0k) will continue north past the dock and boathouse to a series of wires stretching over the river, directly adjacent to a baseball stadium. An observation deck on the west bank will serve as the finish line.