Winter is the
New Summer!
wood-fired Sauna
Disconnect for up to 2 hour sessions in our 8+ cedar saunas on the shore of an actual summer camp
lake cold plunge
Jump into the natural icy cold water through ice holes personally cut out in Lake Minnewashta
vibrant community
Strangers become friends with our rich community of members who make sauna their favorite health practice
Offerings
The quintessential Minnesota experience. A camp for adults, in the heart of winter. Beyond the sauna and frozen lake adventures, Sauna Camp Minnesota is brimming with fun and laughter. Meet new people during our 2-hour sauna & plunge sessions immersed in 100+ acres of lakefront nature, enjoy the conversations around the bonfires, build resilience, and release stress and tension in your mind and body. Whether you're a solo adventurer part of a group, or looking for some quality family time, there's always something happening with the Sauna Camp community.
8+ WOOD-FIRED Cedar Barrel SAUNAS
Multiple Natural FROZEN LAKE Ice PLUNGEs
COMMUNITY BONDING, Bonfires, & Warming Huts
Sauna Culture
In Scandinavia, the sauna is not considered a solitary practice. For many, it is their center of their community.
For Finnish immigrants, it was often the first building they built on their properties. Where stories were told, and legends were made. They viewed it as a town hall. A place to connect with other like-minded people in a community setting, spark their souls, and melt away the stresses of daily life. They call the steam "Löyly" or "Spirit of the Sauna" and use it to renew their own spirit.
At Sauna Camp, we believe in the same practice. Our camp is a place where strangers become friends, memories are shared, and new connections are made. We take our physical and mental health seriously and think that our community and natural environment plays an important role in both.
Camp is the best form of therapy, and it can be difficult to separate the spiritual & physical aspects of the steam & the ice out in nature. Come try it out for yourself this fall & winter.
Embrace the Fire & Ice
After (or before) basking in the warmth of the sauna, take the plunge into the icy waters of Lake Minnewashta for a contrast therapy practice that will leave you feeling refreshed and alive. When the ice freezes, we will have multiple community cold plunges cut into the natural lake ice (and some saunas out on the ice too). The typical sauna cycle is 15 minutes in the sauna and up to 3 minutes in the cold water, but there's no one way to do it, and it's never a competition. The frozen lake experience is not just a challenge; it's a badge of honor and a story to share around our communal bonfire.
There's a Finnish word "Sisu" that roughly translates to grit & tenacity. Embracing the fire & ice builds this certain type of confidence that you'll take home with you. Many visitors say their experience here was transformational.
Don't just survive the Minnesota winter, let's thrive in it. Together. So come be a kid again. All winter long. For us, winter is the new summer and we'd love to have you join us this season.
Benefits of Contrast Therapy
Traditional Sauna Benefits
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Saunaing 4-7x per week has been shown to reduce Dementia & Alzheimer's disease risk by up to ~60%, reduce all-cause mortality by 40%, and cut the risk of cardiovascular disease in half
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Flushes out toxins and reduces cortisol levels and overall stress
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Lowers surface body temperature, inducing a deeper and more restful night sleep
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Supercharges your immune system, associated with lower rates of flu, colds, & pneumonia
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Improves circulatory function, lowering blood pressure & improving heart rate variability
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Associated with lower rates of mental illness
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Improved mood, the heat response releases dynorphins and endorphins
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A place to unplug & reset from screentime
Cold Water Immersion Benefits
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Builds resilience, increases stress tolerance, and sharpens your mental clarity & toughness
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Reduces inflammation, aids in muscle recovery
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Activates thermogenesis & increasing fat-burning metabolic rate up to 350%
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Elevates mood for long periods of time by spiking dopamine and norepinephrine levels 250%+ above baseline for up 4-6 hours
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Cold plunging can promote lymphatic drainage, which helps remove toxins, reduce fluid retention, and supports the immune system
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Helps to restore balance to the nervous system
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Healthier skin, promotes collagen production
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Rush of endorphins, leaving you with an "afterglow" similar to a "runner's high"
