Huzzah Creek & Courtois Creek

Missouri’s Huzzah Creek & Courtois Creek

These two clearwater gems, which join their waters to the Meramec River in Crawford County, are only about 100 miles from St. Louis. Although they are too small to provide adequate floating water at all seasons, the angler will find them pleasant and profitable floating-wading streams. In seasons of good water, the canoeist will find them quite sporty. Their valleys are relatively unspoiled and have real Ozarks atmosphere. It would be wise to check water levels of these creeks at Hwy. 8 bridges before attempting floats upstream from the highway. The names of the creeks are pronounced locally as Coort-a-way and Hoo-za.

Huzzah Creek – Mile-By-Mile Description

Difficulty: frequently II due to sharp turns, obstructions and narrow channels.
Gradients: Hwy. V to town of Huzzah- 8.9; from town of Huzzah down – 7.
Counties: Crawford.

0.0 Dillard access. Only floatable in good water.
6.0
 Hwy. V Bridge. Private campground and access.
8.3 Red Bluff on right. Access on left.
8.8 Low-water bridge access.
15.3 Shoal Creek on right.
16.3 Access at low-water bridge, off Hwy. Z.
17.3 Spring branch on left.
17.5 Private access and campground just across low-water bridge.
23.0 Dry Creek on left just above Hwy. 8 Bridge. Dry Creek includes water from James Spring, which has a flow of more than a million gallons per day. Access at bridge. Private campground and access on right, before Hwy. 8 Bridge.
28.1 Junction with Courtois Creek.
28.4 Huzzah Conservation Area on right. Access on low-water bridge off Hwy. E. Private campground on left.
29.4 Meramec River. Access. Next access 2.5 miles downstream at Hwy. H low-water bridge near Onondaga Cave.

 

Courtois Creek – Mile-By-Mile Description

Difficulty: frequently II due to sharp turns, obstructions and narrow channels.
Gradients: Brazil to Hwy. 8 – 9.2; from Hwy. 8 down – 7.2.
Counties: Washington, Crawford.

0.0 Brazil low-water bridge on road between Hwy. Y and Palmer. Better put-in below Hazel Creek.
2.4 Hazel Creek on right.
3.0 Hazel Creek Recreation Area and access in Mark Twain National Forest.
4.5 County Road Bridge. Private access.
6.7 Lost Creek on right.
6.9 Hwy. 8 Bridge. Access difficult ar highway.
11.5 Low-warer bridge. Privare camping and parking.
12.9 Rocky rapids, which resembles an old mill race, provides good run against right bank. Watch for down trees!
15.4 Butts low-water bridge. Good access, campsite or lunch spot. Henpeck Hollow Creek on right. Private campground and access.
15.6 Private campground and access.
16.3 Low-water bridge on private road.
17.8 Take left channel. This is beginning of The Narrows, a narrow, fairly fast section of rhe creek. Watch for logs and down trees.
18.2 Cave on left. Good shelter though short.
18.4 End of Narrows.
19.4 Doss Branch on right.
20.4 Huzzah Conservation Area and access, on right, at end of campground.
21.2 Junction with Huzzah Creek. Next take-out 0.3 mile downstream at low-water bridge off Hwy. E.

This is an electronic reprint of a Missouri Department of Conservation document. More or updated information on this topic can be found at the Missouri Department of Conservation web site located at: mdc.mo.gov. Copyright 2003 by the Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri. 
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Warning

Under Missouri law, an outfitter is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in paddlesport activities resulting from the inherent risks of paddlesport activities pursuant to the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Chapter 537 RSMO revised to 537.327
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