We've been talking this one over and can't figure out a way that you can do a river trip without riding in a raft. I think what 908erina was thinking is that you could just drive through the area adjacent to the river. This is entirely possible as the river parallels scenic Hwy 191. But a river trip allows one to experience the place in an entirely different way. A way which we think might be more immersive and, for lack of a better word, better. On the river, you float through the scenery, hear the rapids, feel the sun and water on your skin, and possibly catch a glimpse of Bald Eagles or an endangered Desert Bighorn. In a car, you're, in a car! And yes the rapids are biggest in May and June but they are always there, just smaller in August. Always fun, just different!