River Crossing Puzzle

Can you help a prehistoric lady safely take her goat, wolf, and flowering plant across the river? The boat carries only the lady and one passenger at a time.

A prehistoric lady crossing a river with a goat, wolf and flowering plant
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🌊 Can You Get Everyone Across?

Long ago, a prehistoric lady was traveling through the forest with three special companions: a goat, a wolf, and a small flowering plant in a pot. One day, they reached a wide river. There was a small boat waiting for them, but the boat was very small. The lady could take only one of her three companions with her at a time. She wanted to take everyone safely to the other side. But there was a problem!

If the wolf and the goat were left together without the lady, the wolf would eat the goat. And if the goat and the flowering plant were left together without the lady, the goat would eat the plant. The wolf and the flowering plant are safe together. The lady looked at the river and thought carefully.

Can you figure out how the lady can take the goat, wolf, and flowering plant safely across the river? Remember: she can take only one companion in the boat at a time. Think carefully. You may need to bring someone back before everyone can cross safely!

Can you find a safe way to get everyone across?

🚣 The River Crossing Challenge

Starting Position

A prehistoric lady, goat, flowering plant and wolf on the left river bank with a small boat nearby.

The lady, goat, flowering plant, and wolf are on the left river bank. The boat is ready, but it can carry only the lady and one passenger at a time.

Your Goal

A prehistoric lady, goat, flowering plant and wolf safely together on the right river bank.

Get the lady, goat, flowering plant and wolf safely together on the right river bank.

The River Crossing Puzzle

The PDF includes the story, rules, starting and final states, hints, the solution, and an alternate solution.

🖨️ Download the River Crossing Puzzle

Print the illustrated river-crossing puzzle and challenge yourself, your family, or your classmates to solve it. The PDF includes the story, rules, starting and final states, hints, the solution, and an alternate solution.

Download Printable Puzzle

📋 The Rules

🚣 One Passenger at a Time

The boat can carry the lady and one passenger at a time.

🐺 Watch the Wolf

If the lady leaves the wolf alone with the goat, the wolf will eat the goat.

🐐 Protect the Flowering Plant

If the lady leaves the goat alone with the flowering plant, the goat will eat the plant.

🌸 The Wolf and Plant Are Safe

The wolf and flowering plant can stay together safely.

🚣 The Lady Can Travel Alone

The lady can return across the river without taking anyone with her.

💡 Need a Hint?

Give everyone time to think and suggest a move before opening a hint.

Hint 1 — Who Should Go First?

Think about which passenger causes trouble when left with either of the other two.

Hint 2 — Someone Needs to Come Back

The lady doesn't always have to move someone to the other side. Sometimes she needs to bring someone back.

Hint 3 — Think About the Goat

The goat is the tricky passenger. Think about what happens when the goat is left with the wolf or the flowering plant.

Still Stuck?

Think about taking the goat first.

🧩 Ready to See the Solution?

Give everyone time to think and suggest a move before opening the solution.

🧩 Show Solution

In this solution, the wolf crosses before the flowering plant.

  1. Take the goat across.
  2. Return alone.
  3. Take the wolf across.
  4. Bring the goat back.
  5. Take the flowering plant across.
  6. Return alone.
  7. Take the goat across.
Another Solution

In this version, the flowering plant crosses before the wolf.

  1. Take the goat across.
  2. Return alone.
  3. Take the flowering plant across.
  4. Bring the goat back.
  5. Take the wolf across.
  6. Return alone.
  7. Take the goat across.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Family River Crossing

Can the whole family cross the river?

A prehistoric family was traveling through the forest when they reached a wide river. Their campsite was on the other side, and they needed to cross before nightfall.

Luckily, they found a small boat. But there was a problem: the boat could carry no more than 50 kg.

The father weighed 50 kg. The mother weighed 50 kg. Their two young adult children each weighed 25 kg. Everyone in the family knew how to operate the boat. The family looked at the boat and wondered:

How can all four of them cross the river without the boat ever carrying more than 50 kg?

Think carefully about who should travel together and who should bring the boat back.

Can you find a safe way to get everyone across?

🧩 An Evergreen Puzzle

River-crossing puzzles are among the most popular and enduring logic puzzles.

The basic idea is simple: a traveler must transport people, animals, or objects across a river while following a set of restrictions.

Over the years, the characters have changed depending on the story, culture, and country. A wolf, goat, and cabbage may become different animals, people, food, or other objects—but the underlying logic remains the same.

That's what makes these puzzles so interesting: the story can change, but the challenge of thinking ahead remains.

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