Basically Option C, but a little less swimming.
Oh, you won't be swimming. The road crosses over the river.
Also:
smart people might ask around about the area to see what the travel is like.
And keep in mind that "more direct" does not necessarily mean "faster". The wilderness, unlike the road, is riddled with dangerous creatures and difficult terrain that's sure to slow you down significantly.
I think this is appropriate here, yes? I memorized it. Heh.
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And peered down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
For it was grassy, and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh! I left the first for another day
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference