Between 1932 and 1936 Arthur W. Houchen operated a boat and barge service between Cathlamet, Puget Island, and Westport. In 1936 Almar Danielsen of Puget Island took over and installed the ferry Tourist on the run. In 1938, the bridge between Puget Island and Cathlamet was built, and eliminated the need for the Puget Island to Cathlamet ferry. The ferry to Westport continued by the Tourist. In 1949 Danielsen replaced the Tourist with an all-metal 65-foot ferry named Almar. Danielsen grounded the Tourist on the beach west of the Puget Island ferry dock. The Almar ran until 1959 when the Danielsens quit the business and sold the ferry to Anacortes.

Briefly in 1960 Darrell Boylan of Richland Tug and Barge operated a 75 by 24-foot barge service. Finally in late 1960 the ferry service between Puget Island and Westport was taken over by the county. A new ferry named Wahkiakum was built in Hood River at a cost of $45,000. It began operations in 1962 and continues today (2006). The Wahkiakum has a capacity of 14 cars and 36 passengers and takes 10 minutes to cross the Columbia.