Autumn is officially here, and with it, temperatures that mean crisp air, days spent hiking, and meals by the fireplace. With its mountainous landscapes, colorful fall foliage and bonfire-opportunities-aplenty, Upstate lends itself well to the season, and the return of all things “cozy”. And what’s cozier than a sauna?

The Nordic know a thing or two about cozy. According to Wikipedia, in Finland, “sauna is an important part of the national identity. Those who have the opportunity usually take a sauna at least once a week.” And then it drops this gem: “The traditional sauna day is Saturday.” We can definitely get on board with Sauna Saturdays, and we think you should too.

For the love of saunas, we’ve compiled a list of some hotels & Airbnbs with extraordinary setups in which to get scorched — whether it’s creekside, inside, has room for a party, or boasts an incredible mountain view.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

This beautiful two-bedroom upstate Airbnb with a sauna, Parkston Schoolhouse, was once a one-room schoolhouse! Built in 1870, the Parkston Schoolhouse served all grade levels in the Livingston Manor area. More recently, it was converted to a cozy cottage getaway, complete with a wood-burning sauna in the woods. In the town Escape calls home, check our Escape Brooklyn Feature on Parkston Schoolhouse for local recommendations like hiking, dining, shopping and more.

Location: 120 miles from NYC in Livingston Manor, NY.

Of note: Just down the road from one of our favorite hiking trail systems in the Catskills, Willowemoc Wild Forest.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

This three bedroom upstate Airbnb with a sauna is the list’s only indoor sauna, perfect for deep winter. A luxurious bathroom with a walk-in shower is just steps away for a cold shower between sauna sessions. Get inspired with our recent Escape Brooklyn feature on Rowley House, complete with area highlights like hiking, restaurants and more.

Location: 90 miles from NYC in Eldred, NY.

Honorable mention: Rowley House was featured in Wall Street Journal’s recent feature on saunas.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

The aptly named Wonders Never Cease isn’t just a cozy cabin – it’s a world of wonder! Three bedrooms sleeps up to six guests at this log abode, with dual living rooms, three decks, and a perfectly placed barrel sauna overlooking the forest. It’s also central to everything; check out the Escape Brooklyn feature on Wonders Never Cease, or the Escape Brooklyn Guide to Roscoe, NY to plan a trip.

Location: 95 miles from NYC in Roscoe, NY.

Bonus: To up the home-spa game, there’s also a wood-fired hot tub on site.

Photos: Sasithon Photography

The newest offering from boutique hotel group Foster Supply Hospitality, the wellness-centric Hemlock Neversink opens October 2023. This brand-new oasis features multiple barrel saunas, steam room, and treatment rooms with a full spa menu including water therapies, body treatments, massage, facial, body/energy work, animal therapy with their resident goats, an onsite herbalist and more.

Location: 115 miles from NYC in Neversink, NY.

Of note: Day passes are available to non-guests, Monday-Thursday at $300/person. The 1-Day Reset package includes a welcome gift tote, spa credit of $230, daily smoothie/coffee, lunch at on-site restuarant Bittersweet & property access.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

This large, modern chalet inspired by Wabi-Sabi offers a calming, rejuvenating retreat in Windham, NY. Ki Cabin’s wood-fired sauna in is the ultimate amenity for a crisp fall day, located steps from the home in the woods. Between sauna sessions, relax on the structure’s deck, with Adirondack chairs and a fire bowl. Get inspired with Escape Brooklyn’s Feature on Ki Cabin, complete with area highlights like hiking, skiing, restaurants and more.

Location: 140 miles from NYC in Windham, NY.

Bonus: Ki Cabin also features two large soaking tubs, giving this home next level spa vibes.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

One of our favorite Upstate getaways really shines in autumn and winter thanks to its maximalist-everything ethos, including its oversize Estonian sauna with the most beautiful mountain views. Book one of 28 rooms at the Urban Cowboy Lodge; many feature indulgent copper soaking tubs with views and/or private outdoor cedar hot tubs. Get inspired with the Escape Brooklyn feature on Urban Cowboy Lodge, with regional highlights including where to eat, drink, and explore in the area.

Location: 130 miles from NYC in Big Indian, NY.

Honorable mention: An award-winning restaurant on-site at the Lodge makes this the perfect spot to check in and “check out”.

Photos: Sean Davidson

Previously featured in Escape Brooklyn’s Wellness & Spa Weekend Getaways, new “landscape hotel” Piaule Catskill offers 24 stand-alone single and double cabins for forest immersion. While staying, begin your mornings or end your days in a healing circuit of sauna, steam room, and plunge pool.

Location: 115 miles from NYC in Catskill, NY.

Of note: Additional relaxing experiences include massage (beginning at $250), yoga classes ($40) or sound baths ($50). Spa is for guest use only.

Photo: c/o Bellfire Farm

Rambling and imaginative Bellfire Farm in Roxbury, NY is an artist family owned outdoor inn and glampsite comprised of 4 unique sites: two canvas camps and two tiny cabins. Located off-grid in the Catskills Mountains on a bucolic 10-acre property, this part maple forest, part wildflower fields property has a shared sauna for all guests that overlooks it all.

Location: 150 miles from NYC in Roxbury, NY.

Of note: A plunge pool is located just steps away from the sauna.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

In Hunter, New York, Killercat Mountainhouse is a great group spot, sleeping up to 10 guests. Plan a wellness morning with yoga on the deck followed by a sauna session, then bask in the crisp air as you enjoy sunsets from the hot tub and stargaze by the fire pit. Use the Escape Brooklyn Feature on Killercat Mountainhouse to plan your stay, with our local recommendations including dining, plus loads of outdoor activities like hiking, horseback riding, fly-fishing and skiing.

Location: 130 miles from NYC in Hunter, NY.

Bonus: Take advantage of the home’s on-call spa services, and get an outdoor massage on the oversize deck – or take it indoors next to the fireplace.

Photo: Harrison Lubin

The dreamy Hasbrouck House has a number of wellness options for guests booking a stay at this stone-mansion-turned-luxury-escape. The hotel grounds offers a spa offers a menu of massages, complete with upgrades, beginning at $165. Gratis for all in-house guests is use its new barrel sauna, just steps away from the Hasbrouck House landmark pool.

Location: 100 miles from NYC in Stone Ridge, NY.

Bonus: For the outdoorsy-inclined, complimentary hiking passes to nearby Mohonk Preserve are provided to all Hasbrouck House guests at check-in.

Photo: Escape Brooklyn

Deep in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, Warner’s Camp is a luxurious Adirondack getaway whose sauna sits just steps away from the Ausable River. Four bedrooms sleeps up to 12 guests at this cozy Airbnb, where you’ll keep cozy indoors beside the wood stove, and outdoors at the fire pit or its iconic wood-fired sauna. Use the Escape Brooklyn Feature on Warner’s Camp to inspire your stay, with regional info like dining, shopping, skiing and hiking.

Location: 280 miles from NYC in Upper Jay, NY.

Of note: Fueled by a wood fire that’s up to guests to make, you’ll need some extra time to power up this riverside sauna, but the payoff is well worth the wait.