The Missouri American Water 340 (MR340) is an endurance canoe and kayak race across the state of Missouri.

A news release says competitors will start in Kansas City on Tuesday, July 12, and finish 340 miles later in St. Charles.

With numerous towns and hamlets, the course offers plenty of opportunity for resupply while en route. Some stops available are in the KMMO listening area, including Wellington, Lexington and Waverly in Lafayette County; the Grand Pass Conservation Area and Miami in Saline County; the Mouth of the Grand River near Brunswick and Dalton Access in Chariton County; Glasgow in Howard County; and the Mouth of the Lamine River near Blackwater and Boonville in Cooper County.

Participants are allowed exactly 85 hours to complete the course. There are checkpoints along the route where paddlers are required to sign in and sign out. Cutoff times will be associated with these checkpoints based on the 85-hour pace. Failure to meet checkpoint deadlines is grounds for disqualification.

There are no dams, locks or portages on this stretch of the Missouri. You could, conceivably, finish this race without ever having left your boat, however the organizers don’t recommend it.

The Missouri 340 course is all on Class I water. The current is about 2-3 mph, and there are no rapids. The biggest hazard to paddlers are motorboats, fishermen and the occasional towboat pushing barges. In-river obstacles include wing dikes, buoys and bridge pilings.

You can see the route and stops along that way by going to this link: www.missouririverwatertrail.com.