Some settlers also used rafts to travel across rivers. Rafts are made by lashing logs or planks of wood together in a flat platform. They are not as sturdy as boats, but they are easier to build and can carry more weight.
Another way that settlers crossed rivers was by swimming. This was a dangerous option, but it was sometimes the only way to get across. If they were swimming, they would usually tie their clothes and belongings to their heads so they wouldn't lose them.
In some cases, settlers were able to cross rivers by using a ford. A ford is a shallow part of a river that can be crossed by foot or by horseback. If there was a ford, the settlers would simply walk or ride their horses across the river.