Steam mingles with the perfume of cedar at the Nordic Spa at Alyeska Resort. Tucked into the Chugach Mountains about forty-five minutes south of Anchorage, the retreat lies deep within the temperate rainforest of Girdwood, where moss carpets the trees and meltwater streams weave through the undergrowth. In this wilderness setting, the spa feels as though it were shaped by nature itself. It was the perfect setting for a much-needed spa day after a difficult year.
The spa feels like it’s part of the forest
(Travel Alaska/John Kreye)
I left the indoor lounge to pad along a network of stone paths and cedar boardwalks leading to the spa’s pools, saunas, and steam rooms. Between stands of ferns and trees, the water glistened in the sunlight while firepits glowed between waiting chairs. I’d indulged in hydrotherapy circuits before, but never in such a natural environment.
You can easily spend an entire day at the Nordic Spa
(Travel Alaska/John Kreye)
The circuit follows a centuries-old Nordic tradition: heat to relax and expand blood vessels, cold to constrict and energize, and rest in between to integrate the two. I moved at my own pace, cycling between warm and cool water, saunas, and chairs, feeling increasingly invigorated with each step.
Science proves the benefits
Research supports the ritual’s physiological impact. According to a study in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, hydrotherapy reduces pain and anxiety and improves immune responses by enhancing circulation and reducing inflammation. Another study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that it enhances oxygen delivery to muscles and decreases soreness after exercise.
You can participate in these treatments anywhere – even at home with hot showers and ice baths, but at Alyeska Resort, the setting itself becomes part of the treatment. The pools are tucked into a forested landscape, blurring the boundaries between the spa and the wilderness. Inside, guests find cedar-lined saunas, eucalyptus steam rooms, pools, and a relaxation lounge with tea and infused water.
Phones aren’t permitted, a rule that enhances the stillness. Without digital distractions, relaxation filled the space in my mind normally occupied by screens.
Signature Sauna at Nordic Spa
(Kristian Irey)
There’s a reason I was so calm. The spa’s setting is rooted in a concept known as forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, a Japanese wellness practice centered on time in natural environments. Although the concept is a social media darling, it’s not a mere trend. Scientific studies have long proved the benefits of forest bathing. A 2023 meta-analysis in Environmental Research found that forest bathing lowers the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Another review in Frontiers in Psychology concluded that it reduces cortisol levels, lowers blood pressure, and increases the physiological state associated with calmness and recovery. In other words, time in the forest isn’t just good for our minds, it’s good for our bodies.
The benefits are backed by science
(Kristian Irey)
Other amenities at the spa include The Two Trees Bistro, offering healthy dishes made with regional ingredients, and massages and wellness treatments, including the Forest Therapy Massage, which draws on essential oils inspired by the surrounding vegetation.
The Nordic Spa itself operates year-round. In winter, snow collects on the branches and steam curls into the cold air; in summer, sunlight filters through a canopy of green. Access is available by day pass or evening session, and guests must be at least eighteen. Many combine their visit with a stay at the resort, where rooms overlook mountains and valleys, and spa packages include meals or hydrotherapy passes.
Alyeska Resort
Veilbreaker Skybridge
(Ralph Kristopher)
Beyond the spa, Alyeska Resort’s aerial tram climbs more than two thousand feet to a mountaintop restaurant and panoramic views of glaciers, ocean inlets, and snow-tipped ridges. The resort’s Veilbreaker Skybridges stretch more than four hundred feet across a ravine, suspended high above the valley. In summer, hiking and biking trails weave through old-growth forest, while winter brings skiing and snowboarding on more than 1,600 acres of terrain. Restaurants draw on Alaska’s rich seafood and short growing season. I had dinner at Sakura Asian Bistro, and the sushi was as good, if not better, than I’ve had anywhere.
By the time I left the spa, I felt a subtle shift in my bearing. My muscles were lighter, my breathing was slower, and my mind was focused and at peace. Science may describe it in terms of circulation, endorphins, and cortisol levels, but the effect is more easily understood as a feeling of balance. In a place that leads visitors between hot and cold or movement and stillness, the Alyeska Resort Nordic Spa offers what many travelers never find: a way to feel entirely present, held by water and surrounded by life.