The course is a simple out and back route that runs 2.5 km northwest along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath and back. It starts just north of the footbridge that connects the Towpath with the toilet facility and upper car park. The course is flat and uniform in width except for an area about 70 meters long approximately 1.5 km from the start where it splits into a concrete causeway (out) and wooden bridge (back).