Dogs are not allowed on the river. Gators are present on this river. (Those two facts are not unrelated.)
KAYAK/CANOE
Bring your own watercraft to the launch waypoint (free public canoe/kayak launch in Riverbend Park). The main group will begin launching at 8:45AM. If you need a watercraft, the outfitters at Riverbend Park open at 9AM. Their boats launch on the river near their trailer. The event flotilla will pass by the outfitter's launch on our way downriver. If you're running a little late you can probably catch up to the main group and almost certainly still arrive at the event site on time.
There are two dams on the river, Lainhart and Masten. Both dams can be paddled over if the water levels are right. Both dams also have a boardwalk provided for portaging kayaks around the dams. The paddle downriver shouldn't take much more than an hour. Most of the route will be under a cypress canopy.
The event is a social gathering and snack break at the second dam. We will take a group photo, probably around 10:30AM. There is an outhouse (self-composting toilet) at Masten Dam.
After you've had your fun at the event you can explore further downriver, but will eventually need to turn around because there is no return transportation being arranged this year! If you want to take the river all the way to JDSP (ala the first Paddlepalooza) you will need to make your own arrangements. The paddle back upstream from Masten Dam to the launch point could be difficult depending on the current and typically takes about 90 minutes - longer if you decide to continue some distance further downriver.
HIKING
For those who want to walk, park near the Riverbend Park outfitters (see waypoint) and take the trails to OTL Underpass (see waypoint). Cross under Indiantown Road on the orange-blazed Ocean-To-Lake Trail then look for the blue-blazed Italian Farms Trail that goes past Masten Dam (via an unblazed spur trail leading past the restroom). There is at least one possible water crossing; depending on recent rainfall it could be shin deep or you could get across with your feet dry.
You might be able to take a mountain bike on this trail as much (but not all) of it is double track.
To return from Masten Dam you can simply retrace your path on the Italian Farms Trail. If you're feeling VERY adventurous then you could continue north on the Italian Farms Trail until it ends on the Loxahatchee River just west of the Florida Turnpike. The OTL Trail is on the other side of the river and you could take it back to Riverbend Park, thus hiking a loop. The challenge would be getting across the river which is probably at least waist deep, usually has a very soft bottom, and is known to contain alligators.
NOTE ON THE TERRAIN RATING
Since several people have commented in some form: while this is a predominately paddling event, hikers are welcome to attend as well and there is a trail that leads to the event site. Thus it is not T5, just like my cache near the event site is also not T5.