The Amazing Race 8

Development and filming

The starting line of The Amazing Race: Family Edition was at Empire – Fulton Ferry State Park close to Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.

The eighth season of The Amazing Race spanned 11,000 miles (18,000 km), the shortest route of the series. This race placed less emphasis on international travel as numerous legs were contained within the continental United States, and all race locations were inside North America. Panama and Costa Rica were countries included in the race for the first time. Filming took place between July 7 and July 31, 2005.

Route markers were colored yellow and white with black lining, similar to the yellow and white route markers of Season one (and in contrast to the yellow and red markers used in all other seasons). As with The Amazing Race 7, the winners of this season were revealed in an online betting scandal before the airing of the final episode.

For this race, the supplied credit card covered not only airfare but also gasoline. Previously, gasoline had to be purchased with the supplied cash. The rule change was made necessary by the fact that most of the transportation takes place in automobiles rather than airplanes.

The limits on individual roadblock attempts, found in season six and seven, were lifted for this season. Furthermore, some roadblocks in this edition required the participation of two team members. Also, for the first time since season five, a mid-race leg (specifically, leg 4) was aired as not having a roadblock.

During leg one, Renee Rogers fell at the starting line and suffered a concussion. The Rogers Family did not realize the severity of the injury until they had gone to a hospital after being eliminated from the race during the next leg.^[1]

During leg six, at Poás Volcano, the clue envelope appeared to contain fast forward instructions; however, this was not mentioned or described, since either no team took advantage or plans for the task fell through. The fast forward in leg five was introduced as the only one in the race as the show was televised. An online source claims that the task was simply not used, and all references were excised in editing.^[2]

According to an interview with Wally Bransen on RFF Radio, Hurricane Emily forced producers to cancel a leg in Belize, giving teams an extra day off in Costa Rica after leg six.

Cast

In March 2005, host Phil Keoghan toured several cities in the United States (Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Albuquerque, Phoenix, and Los Angeles) to scout contestants for the race. Final casting interviews took place in Las Vegas.

The full list of families that participated the race (with their relationships) follow, in alphabetical order:

• Aiello – Tony, Kevin, Matt, and David; father- and sons-in-law
• Black – Reggie, Kim, Kenneth, and Austin; father, mother, and sons
• Bransen – Walter "Wally", Elizabeth "Beth", Lauren, and Lindsay; father and daughters
• Gaghan – Bill, Tammy, Billy, and Carissa; father, mother, son, and daughter
• Godlewski – Michelle, Sharon, Christine, and Tricia; sisters
• Linz – Nick, Alex, Megan, and Tommy; brothers and sister
• Paolo – Tony, Marion, DJ, and Brian; father, mother, and sons
• Rogers – Denny, Renee, Brittney, and Brock; father, mother, daughter, and son
• Schroeder – Mark, Char, Stassi, and Hunter; father, step-mother, daughter, and son
• Weaver – Linda, Rebecca, Rachel, and Rolly; widowed mother, daughters, and son

Kevin O'Connor and Drew Feinberg from season 1 made a cameo appearance during the first leg of the race, handing out clues to teams in New York at a hot dog stand.

Linda Weaver's husband, Roy, a track safety worker, was killed in an accident when he was run over by a race car at Daytona International Speedway in 2004. She reluctantly participated in two challenges directly related to racing. One was a go-kart race in Arizona, and the other involved traveling around Talladega Superspeedway on a party bike.

Billy and Carissa Gaghan wrote introductions for My Ox is Broken, a book about The Amazing Race.^[3]

Stassi Schroeder later appeared in the Oxygen reality series Queen Bees and finished in 7th place.^[4] Schroeder later appeared on the Bravo reality series Vanderpump Rules as a part of that cast.

Renee Rogers died on November 24, 2013, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, at the age of 51.^[5]

This is one of the three seasons (among the first ten) that was not represented in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.

Leg 1 (New York → New Jersey → Pennsylvania)

At the Amish community in Pennsylvania, one of the detour choices was a buggy course.

Airdate: September 27, 2005

• New York City, New York , United States (Empire–Fulton Ferry State Park) (Starting Line)
• New York City (SoHo – Eastern Mountain Sports)
• New York City (Hot Dog Stand on East 91st Street)
• Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania (Washington Crossing Historic Park) and Titusville, New Jersey (Washington Crossing State Park)
• Philadelphia (Fairmount Park – Belmont Plateau) (overnight rest)
• Mount Joy (Brubaker Family Farm)
• Lancaster (Rohrer Family Farm)

The first Detour of the Race was a choice between Build It or Buggy It. In Build It, teams needed to use a set of provided materials to construct a functioning scale model of a watermill. Once assembled, they then used two buckets of water to power the mill and prove their work to receive their next clue. In Buggy It, two members from each team must pull a traditional Amish buggy along a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) course while the other two rode inside. When they completed the course, teams received their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Starting Line, teams grabbed their clue on top of their luggage and were instructed to pick a GMC Yukon XL and drive to Eastern Mountain Sports in SoHo. They then had to pick up camping gear for the race (four sleeping bags, four camping mats, four headlamps and one tent), and obtain their next clue from the store cashier.
• From Eastern Mountain Sports, teams had to find a "frank on a 91st street", which they had figure out was their next location between Park and Lexington boroughs, where Kevin and Drew of season 1 (posing as hot dog vendors) would hand out the next clue.
• At the Washington Crossing Historic Park in Pennsylvania, teams had to recreate George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River by choosing a rowboat to cross the Delaware River into Washington Crossing State Park in New Jersey. Once across, they had to retrieve a 13-star flag, then row back to the Pennsylvania shore and observe a flag-folding ceremony to get their next clue.
• At Belmont Plateau in Fairmount Park, teams had to pitch a tent as quickly as possible. Once the tent was assembled and an Eagle Scout approved their work, they would be given a pass to one of three 30-minute intervals to leave the next morning, at 10:00, 10:30, or 11:00 a.m.
• After the Detour, teams were instructed to head to the Pit Stop at the Rohrer Family Farm in Lancaster by looking for the blue silos along Blue Rock Road.

Leg 2 (Pennsylvania → Washington, D.C. → Virginia)

The Detours on this leg featured tasks about the American Civil War (the pictured reenactment is in Danville, Illinois)

Airdate: October 4, 2005

• York (Shoe House Road – Haines Shoe House)
• Washington, D.C. (United States Capitol – Reflecting Pool)
• Washington, D.C. (3rd Street)
• Washington, D.C. (Tidal Basin)
• Middleburg, Virginia (Welbourne Manor)

For this Roadblock, one team member had to search for one of ten spies among 50 people carrying an identical briefcase around the Tidal Basin. To identify the spy, he or she had to whisper a code phrase, "The sky is blue", but only a spy would respond with the countersign phrase, "The sea is green", and the spy swapped briefcases with the tem member, where they would fine their next clue upon opening the briefcase. This task would be featured in Season 22 as a Switchback.

The Detour at Welbourne Manor was a choice between Heat of the Battle and Heat of the Night. In Heat of the Battle, teams must take part in a full-scale American Civil War reenactment, using stretchers to transport five wounded soldiers off the battlefield to a surgical tent, where they received the next clue. In Heat of the Night, teams had to take a barrel of oil and a keg of kerosene to a workstation, where they had to fill 20 oil lamps. Once done, they must light all of the lamps and take them to the quartermaster to receive the next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Shoe House Road, one team member had to search the perimeter of the giant shoe to get their next clue.
• At the Capitol Reflecting Pool, teams were instructed to find a limousine parked on 3rd Street and search for an unseen contact who would give them a briefcase, which they must take to the Tidal Basin.
• After the Detour, each team had to grab a Civil War flag to bring to the nearby Pit Stop.

Leg 3 (Virginia → South Carolina → Alabama)

In Huntsville, teams visited the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Airdate: October 11, 2005

• Washington, D.C. (Washington Dulles International Airport) to Charleston, South Carolina (Charleston International Airport)
• Charleston (The Battery)
• Mount Pleasant (Wando Shrimp Co.) or Ridgeville (Ridgeville Mud Run)
• Charleston (Charleston Visitor Center) to Huntsville, Alabama
• Huntsville (U.S. Space & Rocket Center – Edward O. Buckbee Hangar)
• Huntsville (U.S. Space & Rocket Center – Rocket Park – Saturn V)
• Huntsville (U.S. Space & Rocket Center – Space Shuttle Pathfinder)

For this Detour, teams had to choose between Forrest Gump or Muddy Waters. In Forrest Gump, teams had to drive 7 miles (11 km) to Wando Shrimp Co. in Mount Pleasant, and hop onto a shrimp boat. They then had to use their hands to de-head 200 pounds (91 kg) of shrimp to receive their next clue. In Muddy Waters, teams had to drive 37 miles (60 km) to Ridgeville and find the Ridgeville Mud Run. Once there, teams drove a 4x4 SUV one lap through a mud obstacle course, including a 400-foot (120 m) gully filled with mud, to receive their next clue. If they got stuck, they would have to wait to be towed out and restart the course.

In the first special Roadblock of the race, two team members must ride in a centrifuge with a gravity speed of 3.2g. Once the pair endured the g-force, they would get their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival in Charleston, teams had to choose a GMC Yukon XL and drive themselves to The Battery to find their next clue at the gazebo.
• After the Detour, teams were instructed to go to the Charleston Visitor Center to sign-up for one of two charter buses to a mystery destination. The first bus departed at 3:00 p.m. and the second bus two hours later. These buses transported the teams to Huntsville.
• After the Roadblock, teams walked almost one mile (1.6 km) to the nearby Rocket Park. Upon arrival, teams had to enter the space mission, search for the computers near Saturn V, and login to their AOL account to receive a video clue from Phil, instructing them to travel by foot to the Pit Stop at Space Shuttle Pathfinder.

Leg 4 (Alabama → Mississippi → Louisiana)

Teams rode one complete lap at the Talladega Superspeedway on a party bike on their visit to Alabama.

Airdate: October 18, 2005

• Anniston (World's Largest Office Chair)
• Talladega (International Motorsports Hall of Fame)
• Talladega (Talladega Superspeedway)
• Hattiesburg, Mississippi (Southern Colonel Mobile Homes) (Overnight Rest)
• Richland (BP gas station)
• Madisonville, Louisiana (Fairview-Riverside State Park)
• New Orleans (French Quarter – Preservation Hall)

There was a Roadblock on this leg that required one team member to climb to the top of the World's Largest Office Chair to receive their next clue; however, this was aired as a miscellaneous task.

The Detour was a choice between Work or Play. In Work, teams first had to don flannel clothing then use a two-person handsaw to cut four slices off a log, 12 inches (300 mm) in diameter, to receive their next clue from a lumberjack. In Play, teams had to don traditional New Orleans clothing, then make their way by canoe to a riverboat where they played a game of blackjack against a professional dealer. To win a round, the hand of each team member must have a combined total of more than the dealer's hand after the dealer stays at 17, or go bust (go over 21). When the team won three rounds, the dealer would give them their clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival at International Motorsports Hall of Fame, teams had to search the indoor museum to find their next clue.
• At the Talladega Superspeedway, teams had to choose a party bike which they used to complete one lap around the track. Once they completed the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) course, an official would give them their next clue.
• After finishing their lap, teams had to find "Southern Colonel" in Hattiesburg, Mississippi which they had to figure out was a mobile home dealership. Upon arrival, teams had to search through 37 mobile homes for one of three departure times for the next morning: 7:20, 7:40, or 8:00 a.m. They then had an overnight rest in the mobile home.
• The next morning, teams found a clue on their marked cars which instructed them to drive to Richland and find a BP gas station to receive their next clue from a clerk named Les. Teams then had to drive to the "Pelican State", which they must figure out was Louisiana, where they found their next clue at Fairview-Riverside State Park in Madisonville.
• After the Detour, teams had to drive themselves across the longest bridge on Lake Pontchartrain to the state's largest city of New Orleans. They must then park their car on Esplanade Avenue and search for the Pit Stop, Preservation Hall, in the French Quarter.

Leg 5 (Louisiana → Panama)

The Pit Stop for this leg of the race was located at the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal.

Airdate: October 25, 2005

• New Orleans (Louis Armstrong International Airport) to Panama City, Panama (Tocumen International Airport)
• Panama City to Gamboa (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute's Gamboa Field Station)
• Barro Colorado Island (Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute)
  • Balboa (Panama Canal – Pier 12)
• Panama City (Casco Viejo or El Parque Metropolitan)
• Panama City (Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena)
• Panama City (Panama Canal – Miraflores Locks)

For the only Fast Forward on the race, one team had to find a crane at the Pacific side of Panama Canal, on Pier 12 in Balboa. Once there, the family must split into pairs to perform a tandem bungee jump, 140 feet (43 m) above sea level. Once all members completed the drop, they would win the Fast Forward award.

The Detour was a choice between Rhythm or Coos. In Rhythm, teams traveled to Casco Viejo (English: Old Quarter) to collect four musical instruments; a saxophone (from Teatro Nacional de Panamá), a trumpet (from Escuela Simón Bolívar), a conga drum (from Casa Góngora) and a trombone (from Instituto Nacional de Cultura (in Spanish)). Once they retrieved all the instruments, they had to deliver them by foot to Take Five Jazz and Wine where the band leader would hand them their next clue. In Coos, teams traveled to El Parque Metropolitan, where they had to use binoculars to search the rainforest canopy for wooden replicas of five local bird species from a provided bird identification card. Once a bird was found, they had to circle the correct species on the card. When they had five correct circles, they presented the card to the bird expert to get their next clue. However, if they circled the wrong birds, they would have to repeat the task.

For this Roadblock, teams went to Estadio Juan Demóstenes Arosemena where one team member to had to play baseball against a local little-league champion. If they got a base hit or home run, the umpire would give them their next clue. But if a player failed after three pitches, they would have to go back to the end of the line to try again.

Additional note

• Teams primarily used a Red Devil Bus (Diablo Rojo) for their means of transportation for the rest of the leg.

Additional task

• At the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Gamboa, teams had to search for a scientist named Ricardo Diaz who would give them their next clue.

Leg 6 (Panama → Costa Rica)

Poás Volcano National Park in Costa Rica was visited in this leg.

Airdate: November 1, 2005

• Panama City (Terminal Nacional de Trasporte) to San José, Costa Rica (Tica Bus Terminal)
• San José (Parqueo Publico Adrian)
• Poás Volcano National Park
• Alajuela (Doka Estate)
• Jacó (Roca Loca Surf Shop)
• Quepos (Manuel Antonio National Park – Rainmaker Park) or Parrita (Frutas Selectas del Tropico)
• Quepos (Malecon)

In this Roadblock, one team member had to search through a 800-pound (360 kg) pile of coffee beans to find the one red bean. They gave the red bean to the plantation manager for their next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Relic or Ripe. In Relic, teams traveled to a nearby rainforest, Manuel Antonio National Park, where they had to search for four Mayan relics on six road bridges. Once they delivered each of these relics to an archaeologist, they would receive the next clue. In Ripe, teams traveled to the Frutas Selectas del Tropico banana plantation, where they had to gather 15 bushels of bananas and load them onto hanging tracks. Teams then had to use a local pulling-system to haul the fruit to the distribution center. Once delivered, the foreman would give them their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Tica Bus Terminal, teams had to pull a departure time on one of two charter buses to San José, Costa Rica, leaving thirty minutes apart at 11:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
• Upon arrival in San José, teams had to choose a marked vehicle at Parqueo Publico Adrian and drive themselves to Poás Volcano National Park to find their next clue.
• At the Roca Loca Surf Shop, teams are asked to look for a man named Xavier to receive their next clue.

Leg 7 (Costa Rica → Arizona)

La Iglesia de Metal in Grecia was the location of the Detour clue on this leg.

Airdate: November 8, 2005

• Quepos (Playa Maracas)
• Grecia (La Iglesia de Metal)
• Sarchí (Taller Eloy Alfaro) or Grecia (Ingenio La Argentina and Fabrica Nacional de Licores)
• San José (Juan Santamaría International Airport) to Phoenix, Arizona , United States (Sky Harbor International Airport)
• Chandler (Bondurant SuperKart School)
• Fountain Hills (Fort McDowell Adventures)

The Detour was a choice between Brush or Barrel. In Brush, teams had to travel 10 miles (16 km) to Taller Eloy Alfaro in Sarchí. Once there, they must choose two partially painted cartwheels, and use the provided pattern to fill-in the missing section. When they finished decorating the wheel and the artist approved their work, they would receive their clue. In Barrel, teams traveled 10 miles (16 km) to a Sugarcane factory called Ingenio La Argentina, where they had to load a tractor with one tonne (0.98 long tons; 1.1 short tons) of harvested sugarcane, then transport it 6 miles (9.7 km) to the rum factory Fabrica Nacional de Licores. Once the sugarcane was delivered, they had to search a warehouse to find a marked barrel-rack hidden among dozens of rum barrels to receive their next clue.

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to drive a racing go-kart at Bondurant SuperKart School for 50 laps of the race track. Once they successfully completed all the laps, they received their next clue.

Additional task

• At the start of the leg, teams traveled by foot to Playa Maracas and each team member had to swim to a buoy to get their next clue.

Leg 8 (Arizona)

In Page, Arizona, teams visited Glen Canyon Dam to find the Detour clue. Beside the dam, the Colorado River is shown (foreground).

Airdate: November 8, 2005

• Mesa (Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport – Fighter Combat International)
• Grand Canyon National Park (Grand Canyon – Lipan Point)
• Page (Glen Canyon Dam)
• Page (Antelope Point – Lake Powell)

In this leg's Roadblock, teams traveled to Fighter Combat International at Phoenix–Mesa Gateway Airport. One team member had to fly in a fighter plane and, following the pilot's direction, perform a 360-degree loop. Once the loop was completed, they would land and get their next clue.

The Detour was a choice between Bearing or Bailing. For both Detours, the teams traveled by motorized raft to Horseshoe Bend along the Colorado River. In Bearing, teams had to choose a color-coded card with unique compass coordinates. They then followed the coordinates to the next card until they located three locations on three different islands to find the same card on each island. Once they had three cards, they could exchange them for the next clue. In Bailing, teams had to pour water into a boat until it submerged. Then, using their hands and the tools provided, they had to bail water out of the boat until it was light enough to carry. Once the boat had been carried ashore and across a line in the sand, they would receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arriving at Glen Canyon Dam, teams had to choose a boat and a guide to take them to their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams were directed to Antelope Point where they would head down a path to Lake Powell and race on motorboats to their Pit Stop, a marked houseboat.

Leg 9 (Arizona → Utah)

While in Utah, teams encountered a Roadblock involving pool ski jump at the Utah Olympic Park.

Airdate: November 22, 2005

• Monument Valley, Utah (John Ford's Point, Elephant Butte)
• Moab (Gemini Bridges – Bull Canyon)
• Green River (Green River State Park) (overnight rest)
• Heber City (970 Little Sweden Road)
• Park City (Utah Olympic Park)
• Salt Lake City (rooftop of Salt Lake City Public Library)

The Detour was a choice between Ride Down or Drop Down. In Ride Down, teams had to choose bikes and ride a 6-mile (9.7 km) course down the mountain, then to Bull Canyon to retrieve their next clue. In Drop Down, teams completed a two-stage rappel, totalling 270 feet (82 m), to reach Bull Canyon and their next clue.

For the Roadblock, one team member was required to put on skis and descend a 60-foot (18 m) ski-jump training ramp into an Olympic pool to get their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Monument Valley, teams received their clue at John Ford's Point. There, they had to take a helicopter to Elephant Butte at Arches National Park, where they must choose two team members to retrieve the next clue from the summit.
• After the Detour, teams were instructed to travel to Green River, and find Green River State Park for an overnight rest. Teams received departure times 15 minutes apart, determined by the order of their arrival.
• The next day, teams found their clues on marked GMC Yukon vehicles, directing them to Heber City to find Bart the Bear, who had the next clue in his mouth.

Leg 10 (Utah → Wyoming → Montana)

At Yellowstone National Park, teams had to wait for the eruption of Old Faithful before receiving their next clue.

Airdate: November 29, 2005

• Park City (Park City High School)
• Heber City (Heber Valley Railway)
• Bonneville Salt Flats (Tree of Utah)
• Garden City (Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach) (overnight rest)
• Big Piney, Wyoming (Dunham Ranch)
• Yellowstone National Park (Old Faithful)
• Moran (Pinto Ranch – 15200 Highway 287)

The leg's first Detour, at the Heber Valley Railway, was a choice between Spike It or Steam It. In Spike It, teams used historic materials and tools to complete a 20-foot (6.1 m) section of railway track. In Steam It, teams used buckets to fill the tender of a steam locomotive with nearly 400 pounds (180 kg) of coal. In both Detours, teams would need to get their work approved by a railway engineer before receiving their next clue.

The first family-version Roadblock of the leg requires two team members mounted horses and took six cattle from a holding pen, herding them a quarter-mile (400 m) into a corral. Once completed, the cowboy would give them their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Park City High School, teams must choose a pilot and help to inflate a hot air balloon. They then flew across the Utah countryside. Upon landing, teams would receive their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams had to travel to the Tree of Utah at Bonneville Salt Flats, and search the grounds for their next clue.
• Upon arriving at Bear Lake Rendezvous Beach in Garden City, teams had to spend the night. They received departure times 15 minutes apart, depending on their arrival order.
• After completing the Roadblock, the clue written on a manuscript was "I'm old, I'm faithful". Teams had to figure out that the next location was Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park. Teams had to wait for the geyser to erupt before a fireman gave them their next clue.

One side of the Detour involved teams building a teepee.

Airdate: December 6, 2005

• Dubois (Turtle Ranch) (Overnight Rest)
• Dubois (open plateau)
• Cody (Irma Hotel)
• Red Lodge, Montana (Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course – Tenth Tee)
• Absarokee (Larry Arnold's Green Meadow Ranch)

In a Western-themed Detour, teams had a choice between Pioneer Spirit or Native Tradition. In Pioneer Spirit, teams had to attach four wheels to a covered wagon, hook up a team of horses, and drive along a quarter-mile (400 m) course. In Native Tradition, teams had to use traditional materials and tools to build a teepee.

In the second family-version Roadblock of the leg, two team members chose a colored flag and attached it to a Buick Lucerne golf cart. They then drove to the Red Lodge Mountain golf course and searched for balls the same color as their flag. Once the task was completed, the golf pro would give them their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Turtle Ranch, teams had to find a marked SUV in an open plateau, to be chauffeured to their next clue.
• After completing the Detour, teams were given the clue "Do you know the hotel named after Buffalo Bill's daughter?" The teams had to figure out that refers to Irma, and went to the Irma Hotel. Upon entering the hotel, teams had to dress in period clothing, then take a picture with a Buffalo Bill impersonator. Once the photo developed, he would give them their next clue.
• Upon arriving at Red Lodge Mountain Golf Course, teams had to find the "Tenth Tee" and search the grounds for the next clue.

Leg 11 (Montana → Canada → New York)

Teams spent the double-length leg in Canada by visiting Montreal Biosphère, which hosted Expo 67 (top), and continued on to the CN Tower, the tallest freestanding tower in the world, in Toronto (bottom).

Airdate: December 13, 2005

• Billings (Billings Logan International Airport) to Montreal, Quebec, Canada (Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport)
• Montreal (Square-Victoria Metro Station – Centre CDP Capital Passageway, Underground City)
• Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (McGill University – Glenfinnan Rink or Morgan Arboretum)
• Montreal (Saint Helen's Island – Montreal Biosphère)
• Montreal (Trapezium – La Porte J)
• Montreal (Olympic Park – Olympic Stadium)
• Montreal (St-Hubert Airport) to Toronto, Ontario (Toronto City Centre Airport)
• Toronto (CN Tower)
• Toronto (Polson Pier)
• Toronto (Queens Quay Sailing and Powerboating and Toronto Harbour – Kajama or Bata Shoe Museum)
• Queenston (Queenston Boat Ramp – Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours)
• Lewiston, New York , United States (Joseph Davis State Environmental Park)

The first Detour of the leg was a choice between Slide It or Roll It. In Slide It, teams traveled to Glenfinnan Rink at McGill University to participate in the sport of curling. Each team member glided a granite stone 120 feet (37 m) down the ice to the house target. Once a team member got a stone into the house or touched the house with a total of 4 targets, they would receive their next clue. In Roll It, teams traveled to Morgan Arboretum and had to use lumberjack tools to roll four wooden logs along the 100-foot (30 m) course in order to receive their next clue from the lumberjack.

In the leg's first Roadblock, teams traveled to La Porte J at Trapezium, where one team member had to successfully complete a flying trapeze maneuver known as a "catch" in order to receive their clue.

The final Detour of the Race was a choice between Ship or Shoe. In Ship, teams sailed across Toronto Harbour from Queens Quay to the schooner Kajama. One team member climbed 100 feet (30 m) to the top of the mast to retrieve a nautical flag. Once they retrieved the flag, the captain would hand them their next clue. In Shoe, teams traveled to Bata Shoe Museum, where they would choose a pair of shoes; when they found a woman wearing a matching shoe among 100 women standing in the museum, they would receive their next clue.

The final Roadblock of the Race had teams travel to Joseph Davis State Environmental Park in Lewiston, New York, where one team member had to use 71 giant jigsaw puzzle pieces and complete a map of Central and North America (excluding the Caribbean). Once the puzzle was completed, teams were allowed to go to the finish line.

Additional tasks

• At Square-Victoria Metro Station, teams had to find Underground City beneath the passageways of Centre CDP building to find their next clue.
• After the Detour, teams were told to head to "American Pavilion" in which Montreal hosted Expo 67. They had to figure out that the next destination was Montreal Biosphère. Once there, teams had to climb to the 5th floor and get the next clue.
• From Olympic Park, teams had to ride on a golf cart to the Olympic Stadium and enter through the one door large enough to drive through. Once arriving, teams had to search through 56,000 stadium seats for one of three charter flights to the mystery destination, with departure times the following morning at 5:45, 5:50, and 5:55 a.m. It was revealed to viewers that teams would be flying to Toronto.
• Upon arriving in Toronto, teams had to find a clue on a marked GMC Yukon XL and made their way to the CN Tower. Once there, teams had to take an elevator to the observation deck at 1,122 feet (342 m). They then used binoculars to look for the next clue marker at Polson Pier.
• At Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours on the Canadian side of Niagara Gorge, teams had to choose a jet boat from the boat ramp and take a ride up the gorge. Once there, teams had to grab their next clue from a buoy.

Final Amazing Challenge

• After the race ended, CBS hosted the "Final Amazing Challenge" on the official website where the second and third place teams, Bransen and Weaver families, respectively, would compete for a GMC Yukon XL. Using the completed map from the final Roadblock, teams ran out to clue boxes to retrieve cutouts, each representing tasks they performed on the race, and placed them on the associated part of the map. This was repeated for twelve cutouts; the first family to complete the task would win the challenge.

Canadian ratings