Ozarks (Rural)
Floating the Meramec, Huzzah, and Courtois starts at the access points
These three streams are the county's signature outdoor draw, and knowing the official access points and rules matters more than any outfitter's pitch.
Three streams meet near Steelville and draw floaters to Crawford County: the Meramec River and two creeks that feed it, Huzzah Creek and Courtois Creek. Locals say the names roughly like show-shaw and coda-way. All three are clear, gravel-bottomed Ozark streams. In season, people canoe, kayak, and tube on them.
This is why Steelville’s floating nickname sticks. Missouri’s tourism office puts Steelville in the middle of its float-trip guide because those three waterways sit in the local orbit, along with outfitters, campgrounds, gravel bars, and nearby public land. The phrase is travel shorthand, but the geography behind it is real.
When you plan a trip, ask the lasting questions, not an outfitter’s sales pitch. Where are the public boat ramps? What are the river rules? How do water levels and weather change a float? MDC manages public stream access and posts access spots and rules. Check with MDC to confirm put-ins, take-outs, and current rules before you launch. Water levels rise fast after rain, so check conditions close to your trip date.
Where to see it
- Huzzah Conservation Area
Use MDC for official access and area rules before planning a Meramec, Huzzah, or Courtois trip.
References
More from Crawford County: browse every local note for the county.
Last checked against the sources above: July 2, 2026.