Inspired by the tradition of Finnish sauna, Sauna Valdez was created as a space for warmth, connection, and restoration in the heart of Alaska.

Founded in May 2025 by Ashleigh Bicknell, Sauna Valdez is a woman-owned, family-run business rooted in community. With the support of Seward Saunas, local friends, and even strangers she met on a trail just months before, the vision began to take shape. What started as a spark quickly grew into something more meaningful—a place built not just with intention, but with the help of a community.

After years of coaching alpine ski racing and working as a full-time summer guide, Ashleigh felt called to shift her focus. She stepped away from her previous path to create something that supports both physical recovery and emotional well-being—something slower, more grounding, and deeply needed in a place where life is shaped by the mountains and the seasons.

Sauna Valdez exists to offer that space.

Our hope is to provide a place where travelers can pause, where locals can gather, and where everyone can take time to rest, recharge, and reconnect—with themselves and with each other. In a small Alaskan town, especially through long winters and demanding lifestyles, these moments of warmth and connection matter.