Rival's first trip was on July 4, 1860, carrying on the 110.9 ft (33.8 m) the "unbelievable"[4] number of 700 passengers from Oregon City to Vancouver, WA, a distance of 31 miles (50 km) by river,[5] which kept Captain Pease "breathing hard from the time he started until he saw them safely ashore".

On November 30, the Rival tried to make her regular run from Oregon City to Portland, but was forced to abandon it after going only a few miles.

[4] Above Willamette Falls on the same day the steamer Onward started down the river towards Salem, under George Pease, who had sold his interest in Rival to Capt.

J. T. Apperson having purchased the shares of George Pease in Rival, in turn sold his interest to the People's Transportation Company.

Ephraim W. Baughman most of the time, and during her last days was used as a spare boat, to take the place of the Senator on the Oregon City route.