Sauna after a hike: what to check beforehand

Whether you go to the sauna after a hike is your decision for the evening. The sauna is not a must after your hike, and this article deliberately gives no fixed rule on when or for how long. It shows what you can clarify with the hotel and in which cases to discuss the question with a doctor beforehand.

What this article leaves open

Advice on the length of a sauna session, on cooling down or on resting afterward applies to sauna bathing in general. It is not a guide for the time right after a hike. That is why this article does not recommend how long to wait between your hike and the sauna, and it also does not answer whether a sauna session after a hike suits your health.

What you can clarify with the hotel

Whether there is a sauna and when it is open varies from hotel to hotel. If you only get back from your hike in the late afternoon, it is worth asking how late the sauna and relaxation room stay open. Some sauna areas have a minimum age or are reserved for adults, and the swimwear rules are also set by the hotel.

If the day was long, a quieter end to it may suit you as well: a lounger in the relaxation room, a warm pool if the hotel has one or simply the evening in your room. Rest is not something you have to earn.

When to ask a doctor first

If you have a heart or circulatory condition, take medication that affects your blood pressure or are unsure whether heat after physical exertion is right for you, talk it over with your doctor before the trip. And if you feel exhausted or unwell after the hike, it is fine to skip the sauna that day.

Read more

• View active and wellness hotels
• More questions in Understanding wellness