Steam mingles with mist and the scent of cedar at the Nordic Spa at Alyeska Resort. Tucked into the Chugach Mountains about forty-five minutes south of Anchorage, the retreat lies within the temperate rainforest of Girdwood, where moss carpets the trees and meltwater streams weave through the undergrowth. In this wilderness, the spa feels as though it were shaped by nature itself.
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.
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.
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.
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…