A narrow wooden balcony extends from a dark building over a calm body of water. In the background, sailboats are docked along the water, and a colorful sunset sky with pink and purple clouds is visible.

SAUNA FAQs

what to know Before you go

This FAQ has been curated to help you feel fully prepared for your floating sauna experience here at Ebb & Ember. Please reach out to  sauna@ebbandember.com with any additional questions.

LOGISTICS

  • We are nestled on the Oregon shore of North Portland at Elevated Tides Marina.

    173 Northeast Bridgeton Road, Portland, Oregon 97211.

  • Hours: Daily from 6:00am to 10:00pm

    Session Length: 1 hour and 45 minutes (+15 min transition)

    Off-Peak: Monday-Thursday all day, Friday before 5:00pm

    Peak: Friday 5:00pm-Sunday + holidays

  • The sauna stays docked at all times, so you can arrive anywhere in-between your session. No need to be there exactly at the start.

    • A swimsuit

    • 2 towels (one for sitting on and one for drying off)

    • A non-metallic water bottle

    • Inside-only sandals (clean soles, please), or feel free to go barefoot

  • We do not currently provide towels or robes.
    Please bring two towels: one to sit on in the sauna, and one to use after showering or cold plunging.

  • Yes, there is a filtered water station in the locker lounge area to refill your water bottles.

  • You’re welcome to bring snacks to enjoy on the rooftop or lounge during your visit. For safety, cleanliness, and to preserve the sauna experience, we ask that only water be brought inside the sauna.

  • Yes, freshwater showers are available for guests to rinse off on the boat, however, soap is strictly prohibited for environmental reasons.

    In the Locker Lounge area, there is a bathroom, as well as a heated shower with premium toiletries.

  • Yes. We currently have a rooftop deck on the sauna, as well as a covered locker lounge on the dock where you can relax and take in the views. The locker lounge has a bathroom, shower, lockers and shoe cubbies, as well as a countertop to keep your snacks and drinks.

  • Absolutely. Rain and mist only enhance the experience, the ember always glows. Sauna bookings will not be cancelled due to weather.

  • Yes. Items left behind are donated every two weeks.

SAFETY

  • Yes, we have keyed lockers on site, as well as cubbies.

  • No. Ebb & Ember is a self-guided experience.

  • Children ages 13+ are welcome on the sauna for private bookings only, provided a parent or legal guardian is present and has signed a waiver for the child.

    Social bookings are for guests aged 18+.

  • NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY — ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK

    Guests may plunge into the river and use the platform ladders when exiting the water.

    This location is within an active marina. The river may contain strong currents, submerged or floating debris, boat traffic, electric current and other hazardous or unpredictable conditions.

    When in doubt, DON’T GO OUT!

    USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM for SAFETY!

    River & current can be FAST & EXTREMELY COLD. IE. Cold Shock, being swept under boat, docks, etc. Plan your plunge and exit.

    By entering the water, you acknowledge and accept these risks.

  • We do not recommend getting in the sauna while pregnant, please consult with your physician. However, you’re welcome to enjoy the rest of the boat, locker lounge, and landing area as there is plenty of room to relax outside of the sauna!

  • We love animals, but for the safety and comfort of all our guests, pets are not permitted inside Ebb & Ember's sauna facilities. This includes the sauna cabins, cold plunge area, relaxation lounge, and changing rooms.

    The high temperatures and humidity inside our saunas (typically 160–195°F) are unsafe for pets, who cannot regulate their body temperature the way humans do. Even brief exposure can cause heatstroke or serious harm.

    Service animals: Trained service animals as defined by the ADA are welcome on the dock. However, for their own safety, we ask that service animals not enter the sauna cabins or use the river to swim.

  • It is a propane fired sauna that can be wet or dry depending on your addition of water.

  • The propane sauna heats up to 190F and then turns off. At 170 degrees, it turns back on. During those changes in temperature, there can be a metal expansion sound. It is part of the process.

  • It follows the seasons: around 40°F in January and February, about 50°F in April, low 60s in June and again in October, and about 70°F at the August peak.
    We're installing a thermometer at the plunge ladder; once it's live this will link to today's temperature on the site.

    Click here for current speed and temperature.

  • The Oregon Health Authority posts every recreational algae advisory in the state, and its records back to 2007 show none for the Columbia River or North Portland Harbor. Most Oregon water isn't tested on a schedule, so check OHA's advisory map before you come, and if the water ever looks scummy or discolored, skip the river and use the cold shower.
    Links: OHA advisory map · OHA current advisories

  • Strong enough to respect. The river runs harder in May and June when the snowmelt comes down, and Bonneville Dam releases and the ocean tide move it up and down every day. Use the ladder at the back of the float, get in slowly, never plunge alone, and if you're unsure, the cold shower does the job. You know your body.
    Links: River level at Vancouver (NOAA) · Tide at Vancouver (NOAA)

BOOKING

  • Hours: Daily from 6:00am to 10:00pm

    Session Length: 1 hour and 45 minutes (+15 min transition)

    Off-Peak: Monday-Thursday all day, Friday before 5:00pm

    Peak: Friday 5:00pm-Sunday + holidays

  • Open your confirmation email and tap "Change booking" at the bottom.
    From there you can move your booking to another time or cancel it.

    • Social, Sunrise, Moonlight and Banya Sessions: changes and cancellations close 1 hour before your session.

    • Private Party Sessions: move up to 3 hours before; cancel up to 48 hours before.
      All sales are final, so cancelling in time gives you a gift card code for the full amount (saved in your confirmation email) instead of a refund. Cancellations after the cutoff don't receive a gift card.

      Running late? No need to move your booking: you can arrive any time during your session.

  • Our Social Sauna sessions are a shared community sauna experience. Guests from different groups may book the same time slot and enjoy the sauna together. Conversation, laughter, and meeting new people are all part of the atmosphere.

    Many guests enjoy the social energy — others simply relax quietly while sharing the space.

    Is the sauna supposed to be quiet?

    Social Sauna sessions are not silent sessions, but we do encourage a respectful volume and awareness of others in the space. Most groups naturally settle into a rhythm where people chat lightly or relax quietly between river plunges.

    Because the sauna is a self-guided, unstaffed experience, maintaining a respectful atmosphere relies on a bit of shared etiquette and awareness from everyone in the space. If someone seems unaware of this, feel free to politely communicate your needs so everyone can enjoy the experience.

    Our goal is for everyone to feel comfortable whether they came to socialize or unwind.

    What if I’m looking for a quieter experience?

    If you’re hoping for a more tranquil sauna session, we recommend:

    Best quieter times

    • Early Mornings

    • Monday–Thursday visits

  • 8 for day to day bookings in the social sauna. If you book the social sauna for a private party, there can be up to 10 guests.

  • How many people can I have?

    10 guests total, max. But you can have as few as 1 person.

    When do I receive the door code?

    The door code is provided as soon as all waivers are signed. If you have fewer party members than the maximum, there is an option to reduce the amount of people in your party. Click "Go to booking" to adjust. Alternately, sign the waiver again to count for any "empty” spots.

    Just reach out if there’s anything else you need cleared up. sauna@ebbandember.com

  • All Sales are final.

    You can cancel your booking and get a gift card to eventually transfer your opportunity to another time or person.

    How to cancel and get gift card:

    1. Go to your confirmation email

    2. Scroll to the bottom where it says “change booking” or “go to booking” click that.

    3. Scroll to the bottom of the webpage

    4. Click “cancel booking” to get a gift card code.

    Gift Card code will be stored under your “booking info” in your confirmation email for future reference.

Map of a parking area with a designated sauna parking spot marked by an orange circle labeled 'Sauna Parking.' The map shows nearby streets, including NE Bridgeton Road, 1st Avenue, and 2nd Avenue, with the sauna parking area located off 2nd Avenue. There is a note requesting parking in the sauna parking spot and information about the sauna’s location at 173 NE Bridgeton Rd, Portland, OR, with contact details.
Map of a parking area with a designated sauna parking spot marked by an orange circle labeled 'Sauna Parking.' The map shows nearby streets, including NE Bridgeton Road, 1st Avenue, and 2nd Avenue, with the sauna parking area located off 2nd Avenue. There is a note requesting parking in the sauna parking spot and information about the sauna’s location at 173 NE Bridgeton Rd, Portland, OR, with contact details.