This Sauna on Wheels is Heating Up Snohomish County

At the end of the dirt road, situated on the bank of the South Fork Skykomish River, sat a sleek black metal trailer with smoke wafting from its small chimney, where I would spend the next 90 minutes relaxing and enjoying nature.

“Sauna for the sake of sauna.” That is what Ryan Donk envisioned when he left his corporate job in the outdoor industry in 2024 to build his mobile sauna business, dreaming of bringing Nordic sauna culture here to Snohomish County. For most Americans, Donk explains, saunas exist only within the confines of gyms. But sauna culture is so much more than an after-workout schvitz. Donk dreamed of creating a complete sauna experience where people could connect with nature and with one another.

That dream came true in April 2025, when Evergreen Sauna hosted its first community sauna event at The Landing, a popular private camping spot along the Skykomish River in Index. That event was the culmination of almost a year of hard work. At night, on weekends, and during his kids’ naps, Donk built the mobile sauna atop a 16-foot tiny-home trailer. He built everything with intention, from the aromatic cedar planks to the wood-fired stove imported from Finland.

Now, a few months after his first event, Donk welcomed me and four other sauna-goers to The Landing for the final session of his third community sauna event. With the sound of the river flowing in the background and the smell of the woodfire wafting through the air, we stepped into the trailer to begin our sauna experience.

The sauna was breathtaking. And not just because it was a toasty 180 degrees Fahrenheit. The interior features a large window with a postcard-like view of the Skykomish River—a magical place to unwind and escape life’s stress. Afer a few minutes in the sauna, I hopped out and walked down a short path to the river. A dip in the frigid water was just what I needed to recover from the sauna’s heat. Then back inside. Sweat, ice, repeat.

In between river dips, I chatted with my fellow sauna-goers. The five of us shared stories and gave each other pep talks before dunking in the icy river. This community is a key component of what makes sauna culture unique. “How many places can you go where you’re sitting with strangers without phones?” Donk asked me while we chatted post-sauna session. It’s true–there’s a special bond that comes from sharing the sauna experience. Being fully present in conversation with strangers, without the distraction of technology, is a rare experience in our society. For 90 minutes, we sat and sweated together. Sauna for the sake of sauna.

Evergreen Sauna is planning more community sauna sessions throughout Snohomish County–check their website for upcoming dates.