Tuli Sauna & Plunge

Tuli, Finnish for fire, runs social sauna sessions for up to ten people in a wood-fired sauna beside the Sugar River in the hamlet of Paoli, about 20 minutes southwest of Madison. Between rounds you walk down to the river for a natural cold plunge, then rest in a heated dome before heading back into the heat. Guided rituals with aromatherapy are part of the offering.

Sessions run year-round, and the setting changes a lot with the seasons. Groups can book the whole sauna privately, and there are lower-priced monthly community sessions. Seven Acre Dairy Co. on the same property has a restaurant and inn, which makes it easy to turn a visit into a half day.