Sisu and Löyly, Grand Marais

Sisu and Löyly (Finnish for stoic determination and sauna steam) offers a choose-your-own North Shore sauna adventure. Option one is a seven-person sauna and bonfire combo in Grand Marais, on the shores of Lake Superior, booked for your private group or as a communal experience. Option two: America’s first public floating sauna, a sweet little six-person wood-fired beauty docked at Skyport Lodge on Devil Track Lake, 15 minutes inland from Grand Marais. Sisu and Löyly offers mobile sauna rentals (above), too.

Ely Steam Sauna, Ely

This unassuming downtown gem is the real deal, around since 1915, making it one of Ely’s oldest businesses. Sit among locals for a gender-specific sauna steam or reserve a private space for you and a few friends. The original cost of around 20 cents a head has certainly increased over the years, but Ely Steam Sauna is still super affordable—just $11, plus an extra $5 for a private session. Adult-accompanied kids are welcome here, too.

Cedar and Stone, Duluth

It’s just the type of sauna one might hope for in the self-proclaimed Sauna Capital of North America: Modern and roomy, cedar-lined and wood-fired, with windows overlooking Lake Superior, plus a heated walkway facilitating your plunge into it. (A trained guide and ladders help, too). Opt for social or private Cedar and Stone experiences at this primo spot along the Duluth Lakewalk, right next to the AAA Three Diamond rated Pier B Resort Hotel.

Watershed Spa, Minneapolis

Since opening in 2022 in the former Soap Factory building, near the Mississippi River in historic St. Anthony Main, Watershed’s bathhouse has drawn a loyal following among Twin Citians. Regulars swear by the communal, meditative soak/cold plunge/sauna or steam cycle, plus the pillow-filled relaxation room, to reset mind and body. The on-site spa offers treatments including facials, acupuncture and cupping. Advance reservations are required and can be completed online.