Sunset Reset on the Water: Seattle Sauna is the Floating Sauna to Visit
Inside of Seattle Sauna after sunset
A Conference Detox: From Policy Panels to Steam Rituals
I arrived in Seattle for the Grassroots Advocacy Conference, hosted by Winter Wildlands Alliance, where I had the honor of speaking on a panel about community-led recreation planning in Colorado. But beneath all that professional confidence, I was quietly navigating what it means to return to yourself—to find peace again in places that once echoed with someone else’s presence. I wasn’t just networking, learning from other grassroots organizations, and dancing to the Backcountry Buskers every evening. I was also growing my connection to the land, leaving behind my own tears to water the ferns.
Why does this matter? Well, it was the first trip to Seattle since my separation. In 2013, my then-boyfriend and I had just started dating and decided to take a trip to Seattle. It was after this trip that we became set on moving to the PNW. We ended up living in Oregon for 7 years and frequently traveled to Seattle. Traveling there myself this year required me to use all the tools I’ve learned over the past year to formulate my own memories and find happiness in a journey that once included him.
That’s how I discovered Seattle Sauna, moored on Lake Union. Just three miles north of downtown Seattle, this floating cedar sauna offered exactly what I was craving: water, warmth, ritual, and a guided experience to steward my body out of high gear. I arrived on the verge of burnout and overstimulation.
The moment I stepped onto the dock, the noise of the city began to fade, despite having epic views of the Seattle skyline. The sauna sits quietly on the water, framed by reflections of Seattle’s skyline, sky, and sailboats drifting by. Inside, the cedar walls glowed golden in the late-afternoon light, carrying the scent of wood, warmth, and salt.
There was something deeply symbolic about it. I was being literally held by the water, floating between what was and what’s next. The same city that once held my old life was now holding space for this version of me: grounded, solo, and open to new beginnings. All while the sun was setting.
Seattle Saua offers a guided sauna experience to teach you how to embrace ritual and contrast therapy fully. Our guide, Aaron, welcomed us with calm presence and quiet confidence, leading us through a guided sauna ritual that felt part mindfulness, part ceremony. Droplets of eucalyptus oil permeated into the water, and he gently poured water over the heated stones. Each hiss of steam rose like an exhale from the earth itself. My body exhaled too.
Between rounds, we reset our breath by inhaling the crisp Seattle air, cooled by the lake breeze up on the rooftop deck, then slipped back inside to feel the warmth sink deeper. The rhythm—heat, breath, cool, repeat—became its own form of meditation. Under Aaron’s guidance, it wasn’t just a sauna session; it was a reset.
Epic views of the Seattle Skyline are worth the sauna experience alone.
In community with your girls is even better.
Why a Sunset Sauna Feels Like Medicine
As the sun sank low over Lake Union, the sauna glowed like a lantern against the water. The world outside slowed down. I realized how much I needed this—a ritual to return to my body after a long week of being “on.” Let the shedding of the mask commence. I want to feel the full glow of the sun setting over the Bay.
There’s something inherently healing about combining heat, water, and community. For women navigating burnout, big transitions, or neurodivergent minds that rarely rest, the sauna becomes a sanctuary. It’s warmth you can feel in your bones. A reminder that slowing down isn’t indulgent, it’s essential. You deserve to find sanctuary within yourself and in the world around you.
Seattle Sauna offers that rare kind of space where you can arrive as you are—tired, overstimulated, heart-heavy—and leave lighter. The guided experience, quiet setting, and connection to the elements make it unlike any other sauna I’ve visited. I was so glad I could bring three of my colleagues to Seattle Sauna for their very first sauna experiences. It is my hope at Healing Waters, Wild Heart to empower a new community of women to step into the sauna and create their own rituals.
Stepping out of the sauna, with the lake breeze brushing my skin and the amber light shining across the water, I felt lighter. The tension from travel and work disappeared. My thoughts untangled. Whether you’re in town for a conference or vacation, schedule a guided sauna session at Seattle Sauna. Let it be your grounded medicine between whirlwind days
Eyes closed, heart open, city lights twinkling. Just me, being beautifully me.
I think it was here that I tapped into my feminine magic & discovered I could cultivate my own magic.
A New Wave of Wellness in Seattle
Seattle Sauna is part of a new wave of intentional wellness spaces redefining self-care in the city. Nestled on Lake Union, it’s where you can watch the city glow while you let go. It’s perfect for locals seeking calm or travelers needing to decompress after a long week. I highly suggest heading over to Gasworks Brewery after your sauna session to enjoy a cider and boat watch across the marina.
Seattle Sauna’s focus on ritual, mindfulness, and connection sets them apart from traditional saunas in the area. Whether you’re coming solo for reflection or gathering friends for a shared reset, this is a space designed to help you come back to yourself.
Plan Your Visit
Session Length: 90 minutes
Best Time: Sunset sessions are divine. Open rain or shine
What to Bring: Swimwear, flip-flops, water (towels, aromatherapy, and dry storage are provided.)
What to Expect: You’ll cycle through rounds of heat, cold, and rest, moving between the double wood-fired cedar sauna, refreshing outdoor shower and/or cold bucket, and rooftop deck with epic skyline views.
After Your Session: Stay in the flow by exploring Fremont or Gas Works Park, just minutes away. Grab a nourishing meal at Westward or Portage Bay Café, enjoy a lakeside walk, or cozy up at Fremont Coffee Company to journal and reflect.
Location: Floating sauna on Lake Union, minutes from Gasworks Brewing
Cost: $64 per person
Tip: Tips are always welcome for guides
