Collinsville Canoe & Kayak Celebrates Spring with Paddle and Pedal Offerings

After a long winter, the family-owned outdoor recreation business is gearing up for a busy season on the water and trails.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 6:58pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a canoe floating on a river, with soft, warm pools of light and color creating a dreamlike, atmospheric scene.The tranquil waters of the river beckon outdoor enthusiasts to explore Collinsville's natural beauty by canoe or kayak.Collinsville Today

Collinsville Canoe & Kayak, a 36-year-old riverfront shop in Canton, Connecticut, is excited to welcome the warmer spring weather and see an influx of customers renting canoes, kayaks, and bicycles. Owners Jon and Sue Warner say they are 'outfitting boats, repairing boats, and people are buying more boats' as a sign that spring has arrived. The business offers rentals and sales of personal watercraft as well as bike rentals, catering to outdoor enthusiasts looking to get active after a long winter.

Why it matters

Collinsville Canoe & Kayak is a longtime fixture in the local community, providing access to outdoor recreation on the nearby rivers and trails. As a family-owned small business, its success is tied to the seasonal shifts in customer demand, making the transition into spring a critical time. The business's ability to meet pent-up demand for activities like canoeing, kayaking, and biking reflects the community's eagerness to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather.

The details

The Warners say they are 'outfitting boats, repairing boats, and people are buying more boats' as customers prepare their watercraft for the season. Bike rentals are already up and running, and the couple hopes to have canoe and kayak rentals available by April 25. Sue Warner notes that customers are 'just happy to be outdoors again' after dealing with 'cabin fever' over the winter months.

  • Collinsville Canoe & Kayak has been in business for 36 years.
  • The business hopes to have canoe and kayak rentals available by April 25, 2026.

The players

Jon Warner

Co-owner of Collinsville Canoe & Kayak.

Sue Warner

Co-owner of Collinsville Canoe & Kayak.

Collinsville Canoe & Kayak

A 36-year-old family-owned outdoor recreation business located on the riverfront in Canton, Connecticut.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are outfitting boats, we are repairing boats, people are buying more boats -- it is a sign of spring for sure.”

— Jon Warner, Co-owner

“We have had so many people come in and just say I love it – it's warm weather, and I think of Collinsville Canoe & Kayak, and I am ready to get outside again.”

— Sue Warner, Co-owner

“Cabin fever was definitely an issue this winter, so now we have the snow melt, and an influx of business, and it's really good.”

— Jon Warner, Co-owner

What’s next

Collinsville Canoe & Kayak plans to have their full fleet of canoe and kayak rentals available by April 25, 2026, in time for the start of the peak spring and summer outdoor recreation season.

The takeaway

Collinsville Canoe & Kayak's ability to meet the pent-up demand for outdoor activities like canoeing, kayaking, and biking reflects the community's eagerness to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather after a long winter. As a family-owned small business, the shop's success is closely tied to seasonal shifts, making the transition into spring a critical time for the business.