Sauna by
The Sea
DORAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA
“The cure for anything is salt water—sweat, tears or the sea.”
Issk Dinensen
Location+hours
Sauna by the Sea is located within Doran Regional Park at Doran Beach in Bodega Bay, California.
You’ll find the sauna near the Visitor Center, on the oceanside of Doran Beach Road—approximately midway between the park entrance and the jetty. Look for the cedar structure overlooking the Pacific.
Current Hours*
Fridays 9:00 AM-3:00 PM
Saturdays 9:00 am-6:00 pm
sundays 8:00 am-6:00 pm
*Sign up for our mailing list or follow along on Instagram for updates as we get ready to release our first session times.
book your session
50 Minute Community Session
$35
Join a session shared with up to five others. Each guest books individually and arrives in their own rhythm. The space is communal, the experience personal. Come for stillness, warmth, and the power of the sea.
Private 50 Minute Session
$250
Reserve the entire sauna for yourself and up to five friends. Ideal for small groups, special occasions, or anyone craving a more private coastal recharge.
Cancellation & Arrival Policy
We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. You can cancel or reschedule your booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Please plan ahead for parking at Doran Regional Park—it can take extra time, especially on weekends and holidays. If you don’t have a Sonoma County Regional Parks pass, you’ll need to pay a $8 day-use fee at the entrance. We recommend arriving at least 20–30 minutes early to allow time for parking and walking to the sauna.
If you’re running late or having trouble finding parking, please email us at hello@saunabythesea.com—we’ll do our best to shift your session later in the day or reschedule if needed.
The weather at the coast can be unpredictable, and we embrace that wildness as part of the experience. The sauna operates rain or shine—but if conditions become truly unsafe (high winds, lightning, etc.), we’ll reach out to reschedule or refund your session.
why sauna by the sea?
It started with a group of ocean dippers who just couldn’t stay away from the cold waters of the Pacific at Doran Beach. A few times a week, we’d gather on this wild stretch of Sonoma County coast, drawn to the shock of 55-degree (and sometimes colder) water and the way it pulled us fully into the present.
We knew the science—cold immersion lifts your mood, boosts immunity, builds resilience and confidence.
But more than that, it reconnected us to our bodies, joy, and power.
Then one foggy February morning, as we stood on the sand laughing, gripping hot tea and shedding our swimsuits, someone said it: “Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a sauna right here?”
That simple idea sparked a bigger vision: a traditional, wood-fired sauna overlooking the ocean. The kind of heat that reaches deep—easing tension, strengthening the heart, releasing endorphins, and restoring the body from the inside out. A practice the Finnish have known for generations.
Paired with our cold water ritual, it would become the ultimate contrast therapy: fire and sea, heat and cold, surrender and strength.
Permits, many more dips, and a whole lot of community effort followed. And together, we built it—a custom sauna with cedar walls facing the Pacific, a quiet place to return to yourself.
That’s how Sauna by the Sea came to life—from a crew of ocean-lovers who dared to wonder what might happen if we added fire to our ritual with the sea.
Deep gratitude to Ellen, Ann Margaret, Katie, Christina, Andrea, Noel, Lisa—and all the dippers who helped bring this dream to life.
Still dipping, still dreaming.
—Breffni
What you need to know
-
Youth 14 and older are welcome. For health and safety reasons, all guests must be at least 14 to join a session.
And yes, even if you book the private session, the age requirement remains. -
The sauna usually sits around 90°C (194°F), with natural shifts between 80–100°C (176–212°F).
Wood-fired heat has its own rhythm—temperatures change slightly with weather, ocean air, and people moving in and out. In community sessions, we ask guests to keep door openings to a minimum to help maintain steady warmth.
And always, step out the moment your body asks you to.
-
We created this space to be quiet, restorative, and shared.
A few things to keep in mind during your visit:
Speak softly, or not at all. Let the sound of the waves and the crackle of the stove lead.
No photos inside the sauna during community hours. We suggest leaving devices outside the sauna. If you do bring one in, please keep it silent and out of sight.
Bring a towel to sit on. It’s more comfortable and keeps the cedar fresh.
Be mindful of time. Sessions are 50 minutes. Please exit on time so the next group can begin with ease.
This is a shared ritual. Whether you’re here for solitude or connection, respect the pace and presence of others.
We want this to be a place where everyone feels welcome and at ease. Thanks for helping make it that kind of space.
-
Bring a towel to sit on (and maybe another to dry off with), a swimsuit, a water bottle, and warm layers for after your session.
Optional comforts: sandals, a robe, and a thermos of tea—whatever makes the experience feel cozy.
Please leave jewelry outside the sauna, as metal heats quickly.
And for everyone’s safety, no glass is allowed inside.
We do encourage you to bring water and stay hydrated while you’re in the heat.
-
Not at all. Many people enjoy alternating between hot sauna and cold ocean, but you’re welcome to experience it in whatever way feels good to you.
-
Parking at Doran Beach can take time, especially on weekends. Please plan to arrive 20–30 minutes early to find parking and walk to the sauna. A Sonoma County Regional Parks pass or day-use fee is required at the entrance.
-
Email us at hello@saunabythesea.com. We’ll do our best to adjust your start time or reschedule if needed.
-
The sauna runs rain or shine—we love fog and a little wild weather. If there is a weather advisory, we’ll contact you to reschedule or offer a refund.
-
Yes. Everyone who uses the sauna will be asked to sign a waiver during the booking process.
If something gets missed along the way, don’t worry—an attendant will be on-site tending the fire and will have printed waivers ready for anyone who still needs one, or if your group shifts at the last minute. description
-
Yes. The sauna is cleaned and reset between every session. We also ask guests to sit on a towel to help keep the cedar fresh for the next person who steps inside.
-
Most of the time, yes. An attendant will be nearby—tending the fire, keeping an eye on the space, and available for any questions that come up.
-
There are no changing rooms or restrooms right at the sauna. Most guests change at their car, on the beach, or use the restrooms near the park entrance before heading over. Layers and simple setups work best at the coast.
-
Sauna use isn’t recommended during pregnancy. Please check in with your doctor before booking to see what’s right for you.
