Alaskan Sauna and Cold Plunge Experience on the Knik River in Palmer

I love finding unusual activities when we travel, and with so much snowshoeing and skiing, it’s really wonderful to find something uniquely relaxing… like doing a Finnish… or Alaskan sauna and cold plunge in the dead of winter. It may sound crazy, and maybe it is, but also it’s wonderful and such a welcome experience if you’ve been out exploring the icy wilds of Alaska for a few days. Adventures by True North AK, the same crew that we did our unusual winter kayaking trip with, offers this fun dip into traditional health in the beautiful Alaskan outdoors.

I know this may seem like a strange thing to add to a trip, but you’ll see it’s really quite wonderful for lots of reasons. Heck, even our kids enjoyed it. If you’ve not considered doing a sauna and cold plunge when you come Anchorage or Palmer in the winter, rethink it now and make time in your itinerary for the experience. If you have any questions about this activity or other tours with Adventures by True North AK, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re all about sharing the things we find fun and interesting and are happy to help YOU plan a great trip to AK.

Why do a Sauna and Cold Plunge in Winter?

Not being a health professional or somebody who likes discomfort, jumping in the cold water in the middle of winter isn’t something I would normally go for. Pair it with a nice long sauna experience in the snow and you have me. The process of enjoying a sauna is something I love in general, but for this day with Adventures by True North AK we brought the kids with us too. They really liked the actual sauna time, sitting in the heat, chuckling as their feet touched the cold ground below. True, the kids didn’t work up the guts to get into the river between moments in the sauna, but that’s okay; they totally appreciated getting to be in the outdoors and being all warm from the sauna.

For me, the real challenge was being able to convince myself to plunge into the Eklutna Tailrace, the part of the Knik River that doesn’t freeze in the winter. I’ve done plenty of polar plunges in my day, including jumping off a boat into Glacier Bay. The thrill of the moment is kind of fun and then I always feel kind of proud of myself, but I’ve not done it with the intent of health benefits. Well, after having a nice, hot sauna and then the beautiful river beside, I can see where the joy and health comes into it. While we weren’t quite able to do our multiple cold plunges in a way that we could work our time to be longer and longer, I can see how this is something that could be beneficial. The goal is to regulate your breathing and manage your body’s reaction. With the combination of the sauna and cold plunge, if you give yourself enough time and chances to get used to it, it’s very much possible to increase your time in the icy water as your body learns to regulate.

I can’t think of anywhere else that I would rather do a sauna and cold plunge thank in the beautiful winter setting of Palmer, Alaska. I know, I’m gushing about how cool and beautiful this activity is, but it’s true. Getting to travel a lot and explore all around Alaska, this is one of the most unique things we’ve gotten to enjoy. I absolutely recommend it for locals or tourists alike. If I had this available to me when I lived off the Kenai River I would’ve been doing it all the time.

Book this experience here!

Tips for an Alaskan Sauna and Cold Plunge

Getting the riverside sauna set up and hot does take a little time, so you’ll need to plan and book your experience a day or more in advance, but it’ll be well worth it to plan for. When you’re plotting and planning, you can also set up a winter kayaking experience to go along with your sauna and cold plunge. Adventures by True North AK does both tours from the same spot so you can easily stack the activities and have two of the most unique experiences one after the other. If you’re planning on doing the sauna and cold plunge with kids, it’s important to make sure that they are comfortable with the activity. It can be weird to sit in a sauna if you haven’t done it before, and it can be scary to jump into an icy river if you have common sense (I kid, but it’s scary initially). Be sure that everyone participating is comfortable with the activities, and if the Alaskan cold plunge is too much, it’s okay to just do the sauna.

While you’re immersed in the Alaskan sauna and cold plunge experience, it’s okay to talk to your hosts and ask for advice in making the most of the experience. Some people are hesitant to really let the temperature rise, but it’s okay. Talk to your host about how hot is ideal or how to manage it if it’s getting uncomfortably warm. Also, get a demonstration of how best to pour water on the hot rocks so you don’t splash everywhere. I immediately splashed myself on my first pour. There is eucalyptus provided as well, so be sure to get a little demonstration of how to use it. When you visit Alaska in the winter, the sun rises and sets rather quickly.

If your trip is during the shortest days, keep in mind that doing the Alaskan sauna and cold plunge will take up a good portion of the daylight hours, so plan accordingly. February and March have much more daylight, so it’s easier to plan for this and more activities in the same day if you’re here during those times.

Being Prepared for a Sauna and Cold Plunge in Winter

If you’re traveling to Alaska in the winter, be sure to bring a swimsuit. Whether you’re planning to do the Alaskan sauna and cold plunge in advance or if you’re staying someplace with an indoor pool (the Captain Cook Hotel) or hot springs (like Chena Hot Springs), it’s always good to be prepared, even if it seems like a silly thing to bring to the cold north. Another useful item to bring along is a pair of watershoes / aquasox. I know that sounds odd, but between the cold snow under the sauna and the icy rocks in the river that you’ll stand on, a little foot protection is a good idea for making it so you can last longer in the river. That was actually what made it difficult for us to stay in the cold plunge action for longer, how our feet felt.

You don’t need to bring your own towels for the sauna and cold plunge, as Adventures by True North AK will provide them (as well as hot cocoa), but you should dress in a way that it’s easy to undress and redress when you’re done. You’ll be able to dry off just fine, but it can be tricky to put back on four layers of clothes in the changing tent. Before you depart your lodging, be sure you’re dressed warmly AND easily.

Since you’ll be enjoying your Alaskan sauna and cold plunge with just your travel group, you’re probably all buddies or family, so it’s a fun opportunity to get pictures and document the unqiue experience. Within the sauna environment, a phone or GoPro is ideal for getting some photos, as well as capturing the cold plunging, especially since it’s so funny for some people. Once a camera is in the cold and re-enters the sauna though, it’ll be quite foggy due to the temperature change. It’ll clear up eventually, but just keep in mind that the environmental change can impact taking photos.

Getting to the Winter Sauna and Cold Plunge Site

Pay close attention to the directions provided to you for where to go for your Alaskan sauna and cold plunge experience. It’s always a good idea to call and confirm your location just in case there are any weather or local changes that make it so you need to go to a different location than what’s originally planned. Typically the sauna and cold plunge happens on the banks of the Eklutna Tailrace off the Old Glenn Highway in Palmer, but depending on ice and weather it may occur in a different location. If it is the standard locale though, there is plenty of parking at the start of the tailrace. You’ll park across the street from the Eklutna power station and your guide will meet you there. It’s a little less than an hour from downtown Anchorage and just about 20 minutes from Palmer, so it’s not difficult to get to. Be sure you give yourself plenty of time though!