FAQ
Before the fire is lit,
here's what you need to know.
Shingobee is a little different by design.
Here’s a closer look at what to expect.
Five elements. One complete ritual.
01 · Canvas Threshold
Covered comfort for every season.
Change your layers, change your state.
Transition matters.
Real wood. Real fire. Real heat.
The kind that takes time to build.
The way Finnish tradition intended.
02 · Fire
The Finnish steam ritual.
Water poured over hot stones.
Heat that wraps around your whole body.
03 · Löyly
Summer: cold plunge and waterfall bucket shower.
Winter: Nordic air and snow.
Minnesota sets the temperature. We work with it.
04 · Contrast
Open fire. Open sky.
Fireside conversations or silence.
Ground yourself in the elements.
05 · Grounding
The Experience
A primitive, nature-inspired, wood-fired sauna experience located in Shingobee Township, Minnesota. Self-guided. Private. By appointment only.
Designed for 1 to 6 guests per session.
Three miles south of Walker, off Highway 34, in Shingobee Township.
Think camping-inspired, without the deep-woods trek.
Shingobee keeps things intentionally minimal + close to the elements — wood-fired heat, solar-powered lighting, open air + seasonal contrast.
It’s primitive where it adds to the experience, comfortable where it counts + easy to access just minutes from Walker.
Sessions are private and unhosted. You'll receive session instructions after booking, so you'll know what to expect before you arrive.
The sauna will be fired, heated, and ready for you at your session time.
Every session includes a canvas wall tent for changing and recovery, a wood-fired cedar sauna, and private outdoor seating spaces.
The contrast experience changes with the seasons. We roll with Mother Nature. During warmer months, cold-water contrast includes the outfitter cold plunge and waterfall bucket shower. During Winter or freezing conditions, cold-water features are not available. Outdoor air + snow become the contrast instead.
The fire pit is available with twilight sessions, by advance request. If you'd like it lit for your session, please select the fire pit option when booking.
Yes. Your dedicated sauna space is reserved exclusively for you and your group during your session.
Shingobee Sauna Club was built on our family land. A privacy wall separates the sauna area from our backyard, though portions of our yard may still be visible.
You'll have your own entrance and parking, separate from ours.
No. Shingobee is self-guided from the moment you arrive. We light the fire, set the space, and step away before your session starts. We won't come into your space unless you ask us to.
We live on the property, so we're close by the whole time and available by phone for anything you need.
No. Heat, cold, and rapid temperature change put real stress on the body, and some bodies shouldn't take it on.
Our Release & Waiver asks every person to confirm they're fit to participate and that no medical condition interferes with safely tolerating heat or cold — cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, circulatory, or thermoregulatory. Pregnancy belongs in that same conversation. Read it before you book. If any part of it doesn't describe you honestly, talk to your own provider first, and don't sign it until you can sign it truthfully. We don't provide medical services or medical advice, and we can't make that call for you.
Don't participate if you're feeling unwell, dehydrated, dizzy, or faint. No alcohol, cannabis, or other substances before or during your session. Drink water before, during, and after.
Sessions are self-guided and unhosted. No one is watching you. Know your limits, go at your own pace, and step out when your body says to. And if heat and cold aren't for you right now, the tent and the fire are still yours.
Arrive at your scheduled session time and follow the instructions provided after booking.
Your space will be prepared and the sauna will be hot. There’s no traditional check-in — settle in, change your layers, and begin when you’re ready.
Five elements. One complete ritual.
01 · Canvas Threshold
Covered comfort for every season.
Change your layers, change your state.
Transition matters.
Real wood. Real fire. Real heat.
The kind that takes time to build.
The way Finnish tradition intended.
02 · Fire
The Finnish steam ritual.
Water poured over hot stones.
Heat that wraps around your whole body.
03 · Löyly
Summer: cold plunge and waterfall bucket shower.
Winter: Nordic air and snow.
Minnesota sets the temperature. We work with it.
04 · Contrast
Open fire. Open sky.
Fireside conversations or silence.
Ground yourself in the elements.
05 · Grounding
The Sauna + Cold Exposure
Our wood-fired sauna is handcrafted from locally sourced white cedar timber and heated by a traditional wood-burning stove.
Because we use a real wood fire, the temperature naturally fluctuates throughout your session. Outdoor temperatures and the time of year also influence how the sauna heats and holds warmth.
The sauna typically operates between 160°F and 190°F.
Löyly (LOY-loo) is the Finnish steam ritual of pouring water over hot sauna stones.
It creates the “spirit” of sauna — wrapping you in humid heat and pulling you into the moment.
Your sauna bucket is filled and waiting when you arrive, with a backup water jug so you don't run dry. Rento brand sauna scents are there to use — Finnish, and made just for this.
Not at all. First-timers are welcome.
Your session is self-guided, and we'll provide instructions before you arrive so you know how to use the space and what to expect.
Listen to your body. Step out when you need to. Cool down, reset, and return when you're ready.
During warmer months, cold-water contrast includes the cold plunge + waterfall bucket shower.
Both run on Shingobee well water that typically runs 58°F - 64°F depending on the season. Softened, untreated, nothing chilled and nothing added. The plunge is drained, cleaned, and refilled fresh before every session.
During Winter or freezing conditions, the water features close for the season. Outdoor air + snow become the contrast instead. We roll with Mother Nature.
No. Every part of the Shingobee experience is yours to choose.
Use the sauna. Step outside. Try the outfitter cold plunge or waterfall bucket shower. Skip it entirely. Move between heat + contrast in whatever way feels right for you
Five elements. One complete ritual.
01 · Canvas Threshold
Covered comfort for every season.
Change your layers, change your state.
Transition matters.
Real wood. Real fire. Real heat.
The kind that takes time to build.
The way Finnish tradition intended.
02 · Fire
The Finnish steam ritual.
Water poured over hot stones.
Heat that wraps around your whole body.
03 · Löyly
Summer: cold plunge and waterfall bucket shower.
Winter: Nordic air and snow.
Minnesota sets the temperature. We work with it.
04 · Contrast
Open fire. Open sky.
Fireside conversations or silence.
Ground yourself in the elements.
05 · Grounding
Booking + Groups
All sessions are booked online in advance. Shingobee is by appointment only.
Walk-ins are not available. Reservations open 14 days in advance on a rolling basis.
Planning further ahead? Contact us about dates outside the booking window.
All sessions are 75 minutes long and start at your scheduled time.
Looking for a longer experience or have a special occasion? Reach out before you book and we'll talk it through.
Shingobee Sauna Club is designed for 1 to 6 guests per session.
Your booking reserves the dedicated sauna space exclusively for you and your group. Every person must sign a waiver before arriving.
Yes. They sign the same waiver as everyone else and they count toward your six.
Dropping someone off and heading out? No waiver needed — just don't walk in.
Participants under 18 must be accompanied at all times by a parent or legal guardian, or by an adult 18 or older designated in writing by the parent or legal guardian. A parent or legal guardian must sign the Agreement on the Minor's behalf.
Absolutely. Solo sessions are welcome. Sometimes the best company is no company at all.
That's between you and your people. We charge one total at booking.
We get it, plans change. Sessions may be rescheduled up to 24 hours before your scheduled start time, subject to availability.
Changes within 24 hours are not permitted and are non-refundable.
Cancel 24 hours or more before your scheduled session for a full refund.
Cancellations made within 24 hours of your session and no-shows are non-refundable.
Safety comes first. Weather, fire restrictions, equipment issues, or other unforeseen circumstances may occasionally require us to modify, reschedule, or cancel a session.
If Shingobee Sauna Club cancels your session, you'll have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
Your session ends at its scheduled time regardless of when you arrive.
The fires are lit strategically before your start time and are on a schedule. Arriving late shortens your session; it doesn't move it.
They can't participate.
Your reservation covers a set number of guests (up to six), and every participant needs a signed waiver on file. If your group grows, update the booking before your session so we can approve it.
No. The “Club” in our name isn't about a punch card. It's about belonging — a place that's yours when you need it, whether that's once or once a season.
Every session is already private — one booking at a time, up to six guests.
Planning something special? Reach out before you book and we'll talk it through.
Five elements. One complete ritual.
01 · Canvas Threshold
Covered comfort for every season.
Change your layers, change your state.
Transition matters.
Real wood. Real fire. Real heat.
The kind that takes time to build.
The way Finnish tradition intended.
02 · Fire
The Finnish steam ritual.
Water poured over hot stones.
Heat that wraps around your whole body.
03 · Löyly
Summer: cold plunge and waterfall bucket shower.
Winter: Nordic air and snow.
Minnesota sets the temperature. We work with it.
04 · Contrast
Open fire. Open sky.
Fireside conversations or silence.
Ground yourself in the elements.
05 · Grounding
Arrival + Logistics
Three miles south of Walker, off Highway 34, in Shingobee Township.
Full directions arrive with your booking confirmation. Follow them carefully — the SSC entrance is hidden by design.
Two dedicated parking spaces are available at the Shingobee Sauna Club entrance.
Please follow the arrival directions provided with your booking confirmation and park only in the designated spaces.
If you turn into the private residence, you've turned one driveway too soon.
Shingobee Sauna Club is a small, private, appointment-only outdoor sauna experience located on natural wooded terrain. The property includes compacted-granite pathways, natural and changing outdoor surfaces, elevation changes, and steps when entering certain structures.
Our 10' × 12' canvas changing and recovery tent is entered through a standard exterior door with steps. Our 8' × 8' cedar sauna also requires navigating steps and includes sauna benches intentionally elevated above the sauna floor. During warmer months, the cold plunge is a 450-quart Grizzly cooler and requires stepping up and over the side to enter and exit.
Because of these physical features, some areas or elements of the Shingobee experience may present accessibility challenges for guests with limited mobility or other accessibility needs.
If you have an accessibility need, please contact us before booking. We are happy to discuss the property, the physical requirements of the experience, and whether a reasonable accommodation may be available for your visit.
Wear a swimsuit or comfortable fitness clothing and easy-to-remove footwear for moving between the sauna and outdoor spaces. Dress for the season.
Bring a water bottle and anything else you need to feel comfortable during your session. You're welcome to bring your own towel, but we'll have towels onsite for sitting on the sauna benches and drying off before transitioning back into the real world.
And while we love keeping things natural around here, we don't go that natural. No nudity, please.
No. Shingobee is a wild experience on purpose. Plan accordingly before you arrive.
Yes — arriving freshly showered is standard sauna etiquette and appreciated.
We love our fur friends, but pets are not permitted at Shingobee Sauna Club.
Service animals are permitted as required by applicable law. If you plan to visit with a service animal, please contact us before your session so we can discuss the outdoor site and experience.