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(William R. Watt) wrote in
:

I prefer a canoe type of boat for paddling up small creeks and other
narrow channels where the kayak paddle needs too much side clearance,

How so? With a high angle paddle stroke in a kayak which is typically much
narrower than a canoe I contend that a kayak would actually require less
side clearance.

and when the creek gets really narrow a kayak can't be backed out
easily

Only if you don't have much experience paddling backwards in a kayak.
Paddling a kayak backwards is not difficult with a little bit of practice.
With good torso rotation one can paddle just as fast as a forward stroke
(I've heard at least one world class kayaker claim that he could paddle
backwards faster than he could forward) and if one edges the boat
manoevering backwards on a twisty creek isn't difficult either.

but all I have to do in a canoe is sit facing in the opposite
direction. Both canoes and kayaks have hulls which will go both
forwards and backwards but the seating arrangement in a canoe makes it
easier.

In beginning kayaking lessons I teach, paddling backwards is one of the
first things we teach. Most first time kayaker get it pretty quickly and
probably develope a better backwards stroke before they develope a good
forward stroke.