Best Nordic Spas Within 2 Hours of Calgary: A Firsthand Guide

As much as I love the wild outdoors and all the hiking, backpacking, biking, and cross-country skiing I do, I’m also a big fan of relaxing in Nordic-style spas, especially those within two hours of my home base in Calgary. My first Nordic spa experience was over a decade ago at the phenomenal Nordik Spa Village in Chelsea, Quebec, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

Since then, I’ve made countless visits to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa. And this fall I explored the two newest Nordic spas near Calgary: Everwild Canmore and Basin Glacial Waters at Lake Louise. Calgary also has smaller but lovely options like Clear Nordic Spa and Drift Away Wellness Spa at more accessible price points.

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Everwild Canmore Nordic Spa at dusk

FAQ

Are Nordic spas worth it? A visit to a Nordic Spa is a treat for me so I think it’s totally worth it to go. I always leave relaxed yet rejuvenated. I have come to love the cold-water plunges and feel very alive after those.

What should I bring to a Nordic spa? Bring a bathing suit you’re comfortable in and a reusable water bottle – even though all Nordic spas provide water.

What is the hydrotherapy cycle? It’s a wellness ritual that involves hot and cold experiences followed by rest. Hot experiences include hot pools, steam rooms or saunas. Cold experiences can be cold plunges, cold showers, or a cold shower bucket. Reportedly this cycle is meant to detoxify, energize and improve circulation along with deep relaxation.

Which Nordic spa near Calgary is best for couples? That’s a hard question. They are all great.

What is the most affordable Nordic spa near Calgary? Clear Nordic and Drift Away Wellness are the most affordable indoor Nordic spa experiences near Calgary. The Kananaskis Nordic Spa is the most affordable one in the mountains.

Do you need to book in advance? You must book Clear Nordic one to three days in advance (or same day) if you are a guest. Drift Away Wellness can be booked last minute on weekdays but reserve for weekends. The three Nordic spas in the mountains near Calgary should all be booked in advance especially over busy holiday periods. You’ll always have better luck getting into one of the Nordic spas within two hours of Calgary on a weekday.

Are there health benefits to Nordic spas? We all like to think that a few hours practicing the hot-cold-rest routine in a Nordic spa confers health benefits. I certainly feel my muscles relax and the stress melt away. But are there detectable physical benefits? Reportedly the hydrotherapy cycle lowers blood pressure, boosts immune response, improves sleep and reduces muscle soreness and joint inflammation – among other things.

There is emerging research from Steve Kuzara, a pioneer in contrast therapy that shows that the “intense shock response may be less beneficial than once believed. Gradual contrast therapy is gaining momentum as a safer, more effective path for recovery and stress regulation”.

Most of us who visit a Nordic spa are simply looking to enjoy the peace, nature, relaxation, and brief escape from stress that it brings.

We are led through a sauna ritual at Everwild Canmore Nordic Spa

Clear Nordic Spa (Calgary): Urban Nordic-Style Wellness

Location and travel access: 5629 Signal Hill Centre SW, Calgary – super accessible and no mountain drive involved. Free parking.

Facilities and amenities: A 4,000 square foot Nordic spa with large hot and cold plunge pools, dry, steam and infrared saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge buckets, three silent relaxation zones, a “Zen Social Room” for quiet socializing and minimalist nature-inspired interiors. Towel/robe/sandals/shower essentials provided. Drinks like tea, kombucha and juices are available for purchase.

Experience and vibe: John and I spent two hours here on a grey fall Sunday, and it felt like stepping into another world. Apart from a short stint in the sauna and some quiet time in the Zen Social Room, we followed the hot–cold–rest cycle, though John barely lasted 30 seconds in the cold plunge. With a strong emphasis on silence and stillness, we both left feeling calm, rejuvenated, and reset.

Best for: Calgary locals or travelers looking for a Calgary wellness spa experience without a long drive. Also ideal for a date night, a post-work recharge, or simply unwinding.

Practical tips: Bring your bathing suit, water bottle (no glass) and possibly a book.

Unique features and pricing: Become a member and visit 1, 2 or 4 times per month with prices ranging from $69 to $209. Add more sessions at a discounted rate. Guests pay $79 and can book Clear Nordic Spa one to three days in advance or even same day if there is availability.

Clear Nordic Spa Calgary saunas and pools – some photos are via Clear Nordic Spa

Drift Away Wellness Spa (Calgary): Indoor Nordic Spa Experience

Location and travel access: 324 58 Ave SE Unit 2120, Calgary. Easy city access and lots of free parking.

Facilities and amenities: Multiple saunas – Finnish, infrared and bio with herbs, Himalayan Salt Halo Therapy Chamber, hot pool, cold plunge, cold bucket, rain shower, eucalyptus steam room, Kneipp Path, Wellness Bath – either beer-infused bath or Irish seaweed bath, massage therapy options (hot stone, cupping, personalized), and a relaxation lounge area.

Towels, robes, sandals and herbal teas provided. Drinks and cheese/crackers available for purchase.

Experience and vibe: As Calgary’s largest indoor wellness spa, there’s plenty to enjoy over a three-hour visit. I spent the first hour in an Irish seaweed bath, catching up with a friend relaxing beside me in the beer bath – both in a private room, so we could chat easily. Afterward, we curled up in hanging chairs wrapped in cozy robes.

Drift Away Wellness Spa – which opened in July 2025 – impressed me with its hydrotherapy circuit and its three saunas, each set at different temperatures. Don’t miss the 20-minute Himalayan Salt Halo Therapy Chamber session, where you lie on incredibly comfortable loungers while listening to gentle music. Their eucalyptus steam room is another standout.

Best for: Calgary locals and visitors who want a wellness experience in the city, especially with the Irish seaweed or beer bath as an option. Perfect for a selfcare kind of day. More choices here than the classic sauna and cold/warm plunge pools.

Practical tips: Don’t forget your bathing suit.

Unique features: Beer-infused baths, seaweed baths, urban convenience, mix of traditional and unconventional spa therapies.

Pricing: Irish seaweed and beer baths are $79 per hour, or $158 for two people. And the contrast or hydrotherapy circuit is $70 per person. Prices are $10 more for both the baths and the circuit on the weekend.

Enjoying an afternoon with friends at Drift Away Spa in Calgary

Everwild Nordic Spa (Canmore): New Mountain Spa Near Calgary

Location and travel access: In Canmore, just off the highway at Everwild Canmore Hotel, about an hour’s drive from Calgary. It’s also perfect for a stop after a spending a day outside in winter in Banff National Park.

Facilities and amenities: Nordic-inspired hydrotherapy circuit: hot and cold pools, saunas, steam rooms; plus salt/steam lodges, cedar barrels, “fire gardens,” relaxation spaces, and the Elements lounge featuring drinks, social gathering spots, and a couple of beautiful fireplaces.

Experience and vibe: My husband and I visited Everwild on opening weekend and spent a couple of hours moving between the hot pools, cold and temperate plunges, barrel saunas, and a Latvian-style sauna with herbs. We also joined a 15-minute guided wellness ritual, and although we didn’t have time for the aromatherapy rooms, we explored the quiet spaces and steam rooms before returning to soak again. Despite its location just off the highway, we barely noticed any traffic noise in the spa or our hotel room.

Best for: People looking for an overnight mountain escape with a hotel stay combined with wellness and a Nordic spa. Amazing for couples, friends or even solo travelers after a day outdoors in the mountains hiking in summer, or skiing in w inter.

Practical tips: Bring your bathing suit, flip flops or sandals, a reusable water bottle, sunscreen, and a sun hat come summer. Robes and towels are provided.

Unique features: A combination hotel and Nordic spa – though you don’t need to be a hotel guest to use the spa. Discounted rates of up to 15% apply to hotel guests while Bow Valley residents get 25% off mid-week.

Pricing: Prices are around $185 midweek and $199 on weekends with mid-week sales on occasion and discounts for stays. Prices for treatments are extra.

Enjoying one of the hot pools at Everwild Nordic Spa

Everwild Nordic Spa Canmore hydrotherapy circuit

Mu husband John in the Elements Lounge at Everwild Nordic Spa in Canmore

Kananaskis Nordic Spa: Alberta’s Most Popular Outdoor Spa

Location and travel access: Located in a pretty mountain setting in Kananaskis Village adjacent to the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, about a one hour drive from Calgary.

Facilities and amenities: A large 50,000 square foot indoor-outdoor facility featuring mountain hydrotherapy near Calgary with hot, warm and cold pools, numerous steam cabins and different-sized saunas, an exfoliation room, a relaxation room with heated hammocks, treatment rooms, fireside loungers, and Two Trees Bistro – an onsite restaurant. Two additional saunas, a cold cascade, and a relaxation cabin are the latest additions.

Experience and vibe: I love the feel of the Kananaskis Nordic Spa, especially with its dramatic mountain setting in sight of Mount Kidd. I always start with the hydrotherapy circuit – hot, cold, rest, while enjoying the fresh mountain air, then rotate between the steam rooms, saunas, firepits, and the hammock lounge. We usually visit in late afternoon after an outdoor adventure and finish with dinner at Two Trees Bistro. For us, three hours is the perfect amount of time.

Best for: A visit to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa can be done as a day trip from Calgary though it’s especially lovely and more relaxing when you can spend the night at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge. A visit to the Kananaskis Nordic Spa can be combined with a mountain escape – whether it be one of the nearby easy Kananaskis hikes, after one of the harder Kananaskis Trail hikes or a day on the hill at Nakiska Ski Area.

Practical tips: Reserve well in advance. Weekdays are your best bet. Visits last between 3 to 5 hours, depending if you have booked a massage, or eat in the bistro. Bring your swimsuit though there are some available for purchase. Robe, sandals, towels, lockers and cold drinking water are provided.

Unique features: Plenty of choice here, from pools to saunas at different temperatures, all spread across a large area with a scenic natural backdrop. Even spending time by the fire or relaxing with someone special feels unique thanks to the mountain setting. I also love that you can get a proper meal on-site. Overall, it delivers a very well-rounded mountain and Nordic spa experience for the price.

Pricing: There are two hydrotherapy options – all day (9 AM – 9 PM) for $135 – $155 OR a twilight from 5 PM – 9 PM for $115. Massages are extra.

I love the sense of space at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa

Catching an empty hot pool on a cool summer’s night at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa

Basin Glacial Waters (Lake Louise): Luxury Nordic Spa in the Rockies

Location and travel access: Overlooks Lake Louise at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a 90-minute to 2-hour drive from Calgary. Driving can be gnarly on a snowy winter day.

Facilities and amenities: Indoor-outdoor thermal bathing facility with multiple temperature pools, saunas (Finnish, Bio, Aufguss), steam rooms, a Kneipp Walk, cold-water therapy, reflexology pool, waterfall feature, cold plunges and cold bucket drops. Relaxation zones include a “Silent Salt Relax” room (with Himalayan salt wall) and a hot-stone slab room.

Experience and vibe: Basin Glacial Waters offers the most luxurious Nordic spa experience within two hours of Calgary. With Lake Louise, the Rocky Mountains, and glaciers as its backdrop, the setting is unbeatable. I loved the outdoor pools and the guided Aufguss ritual, an expert-led blend of heat, essential oils, rhythmic towel movements, and music that was the highlight of my visit. I also enjoyed the Kneipp Walk, steam room, hot-stone room, and the delicious rehydrating teas available throughout the spa. What a place to unwind after doing one of the famous hikes from Lake Louise.

Best for: You need to be a guest of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to be able to book the Lake Louise Nordic spa.

Practical tips: Bring your bathing suit.

Unique features: Aufguss – a memorable European sauna ritual, hot stone room, a longer-than-any-other-spa Kneipp walk, herbal tea room, Glacier Lounge

Pricing: $275 per person for three hours

The main outdoor pool at Basin Glacial Waters – Photo credit: Chris Amat | @christopheramat- Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

The pool deck with a view out to Lake Louise – Photo credit: Chris Amat | @christopheramat / Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Why trust my reviews

As a Calgary-based outdoor travel blogger who has visited every Nordic spa in this guide – some multiple times – these reviews are based on firsthand experience.