Post & hog wire or hardware cloth seems less obtrusive to me

Those are interesting ideas, thank you!

Really thorny bushes forming a low hedge all along the bank with a tight gate will stop a curious kiddo until they are about 4 or so...

They would soften the look of any fence and you could even go with rosebushes to get double bang for your buck (beautiful flowers AND a second tier of protection). Rugosa Roses are really hardy, fairly inexpensive and aren't "caney" like hybrid roses. Many also produce edible hips you can use for tea.

I have used two products in these situations that my clients have loved. First is horizontal galvanized cable spaced 3.5" apart vertically. I use cedar or pressure treated pine for the posts. The second is a hog wire fence panel boxed in with 1"x4" pressure treated boards (for a finished appearance). Both of these options look even more amazing sitting on top of an 18" stacked stone wall.

Oh, definitely stay away from aluminum black pool fencing.

I think the childs safety is more important than losing a bit of the view - so you should get the same fencing as if you had a pool.A black fence will be somewhat less visual and it is only for a few years.To keep the cost down just fence in a smaller area closer to the house.I know you are hardly going to take your eyes off that child when they are able to play outside. Your place looks inviting - lucky you.

Thanks, those are all interesting ideas! I agree that the child's safety is first and foremost, we just want to make sure its something that doesn't look awful. Do you know if the horizontal galvanized cable fence is childproof? I like the look of that type of fence, but I'd imagine an active child could climb up the cable?

By the safety codes you cannot use anything on the horizontal. Maybe you should get some advice from your Fire Dept. I love the look of the galvanized fencing too- but maybe that is something for the future! Some fencing that has tempered glass panels will save the view but will the experts agree on the safety. I still think expert advice is needed . Also the fence height has to be 42 or 48 inches high.

Take this with a grain of salt ... my kids are grown now (19 and 20) ... we looked at and rejected (for a safety reasons) a house with a pool when they were 3 and 4. The very next summer (just one year later) I found I could sit at the public pool with a magazine because they were already water-safe. (It wasn't long before we put a pool in.) The point is ... if your children grow up in this environment and you are vigilant, your fence time will be minimal. Put up something that gives you peace of mind and will be easy to take down when the time comes. But, I think you should consider a door alarm system first ... Most parents have a story about a toddler escaping the house!! They will do this in the 18 - 24 month time when their motor skills out pace their verbal and reasoning skills. Both my kids escaped once, as have all my neighbors' kids. We put locks up very high on the doors in an effort to thwart my particularly mobile son. He just moved his Little Tykes car to the door and used it as a ladder ... They will out-think you!!
Make sure you get your kids in swimming lessons as early as possible, as well.
Good luck, I hope you have many happy times in your new house!
J

That's very good advice. We actually live on a very busy road, so in many ways, gating in our driveway is probably just as important as gating in the river! Thank you for your comments.

It looks like vines would grow there on just about anything you put up. Get the safest fencing you can afford and then plant vines. You can always trim the vines around the (locked) gate so you can see the water. I agree with the swimming lessons and please Google what measures other parents use around water. Bet there are lots of great tips out there.