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.
[img]http://www.missouricanoe.org/river-maps/maps/huzzah-courtois.jpg[/img]
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.

The stream forms in Mark Twain National Forest in eastern Washington County and flows through the Missouri Ozarks. The confluence with the Meramec River lies in western Crawford County, near the Crawford County Highway E bridge. It flows parallel to Huzzah Creek.

The creek is popular year-round for canoeing, kayaking, and rafting.
It is surrounded by dense stands of trees and native vegetation, has
abundant fish, turtles and waterfowl, and is the best-protected stream
in the area against erosion.<sup id=”cite_ref-0″ class=”reference”> </sup> The Riverfront Times named the creek the best float trip in 2007.