Floating sauna opens on the Ottawa River at NCC River House on November 13
SAUN°A opens two wood-fired saunas and a cold plunge at the NCC's River House on Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway. Sessions run 7 am to 10 pm daily and require a reservation through saunoa.ca.
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The National Capital Commission's River House on the Ottawa River will add a floating sauna when SAUN°A opens there on November 13, 2026, the NCC's own page for the site says.
The facility is at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway, where the NCC has operated River House since 2017. The sauna structure floats moored along the shoreline. The NCC page says the structure holds two wood-fired saunas and a cold plunge, and that the experience moves through repeated cycles of heat, cold and rest.
SAUN°A, the operator, describes the session on its Ottawa page at saunoa.ca as 90 minutes. Guests can use an enclosed supervised cold pool or enter the Ottawa River directly; the river option is unsupervised and offered at their own risk, the page says.
The NCC page says reservations are mandatory. According to saunoa.ca, a community session costs $45 before taxes and a 7% service fee. A new-guest introductory three-session pack is $99, the page says, which works out to $33 per session. The facility is open 7 am to 10 pm daily, according to the saunoa.ca Ottawa page.
The NCC is a federal agency that owns and manages parks, pathways and roads in the National Capital Region, including the Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway along the Ottawa River. Its decisions about the River House property are in scope for Ottawa news.
For accessibility, saunoa.ca says the larger of the two saunas has accessible features, the gangway to the floating structure is accessible, and a transfer board is available on request. Parking is in the P3 lot (about 15 to 20 spots) and the P4 lot (about 40 spots) nearby, the page says.
Residents who want to book a session before or after the November 13 opening can do so at saunoa.ca. The NCC page confirms the opening date and the operator.
Questions this story answers
When does the floating sauna at NCC River House open?
SAUN°A opens at the NCC River House on November 13, 2026. The NCC's own page for the River House at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway confirms the operator and the opening. Reservations must be made in advance through saunoa.ca before you arrive.
Where is the floating sauna located?
The sauna is at the NCC's River House at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway on the Ottawa River. The NCC has operated the River House there since 2017. The sauna structure floats moored along the shoreline at that site. SAUN°A is the operator running it on behalf of the NCC.
Who operates the sauna at River House?
SAUN°A operates the floating sauna on the NCC's property. The company runs sauna facilities in several cities. Its Ottawa page is at saunoa.ca. The NCC's own page for the River House confirms SAUN°A as the operator. Reservations are made through saunoa.ca, not through the NCC directly.
What does a session include?
Each session at SAUN°A River House is 90 minutes, according to saunoa.ca. The structure holds two wood-fired saunas and a cold plunge. The NCC page describes the experience as moving through repeated cycles of heat, cold and rest. Guests can choose to do that cycle two or three times within their session time.
What cold plunge options are available?
According to saunoa.ca, guests can use an enclosed supervised cold pool or enter the Ottawa River directly. The Ottawa River option is unsupervised and offered at the guest's own risk, the page says. Both options are part of the same session. Guests choose which one to use based on their comfort level.
What does a session cost?
According to saunoa.ca, a community session is $45 before taxes and a 7% service fee. The page also lists a new-guest introductory three-session pack for $99, which works out to $33 per session. All bookings must be made in advance through saunoa.ca. Prices are those listed on the SAUN°A Ottawa page at the time of writing.
What are the hours for the floating sauna?
According to saunoa.ca's Ottawa page, the facility is open 7 am to 10 pm daily. The page does not list any days when the facility is closed. Sessions must be booked in advance through saunoa.ca rather than showing up without a reservation. Hours may change over the season.
Is the floating sauna accessible?
According to saunoa.ca, the facility has accessible features. The larger of the two saunas is accessible, an accessible gangway leads to the floating structure, and a transfer board is available on request. Guests who need these features should note them when booking through saunoa.ca.
Where do I park for River House?
According to saunoa.ca, the P3 lot nearby holds about 15 to 20 vehicles and the P4 lot holds about 40. Both are near the River House site at 501 Sir George-Étienne Cartier Parkway. The page does not give specific walking times from the lots to the sauna structure.
Do I need a reservation for the floating sauna?
Yes. The NCC page says reservations are mandatory and must be made through saunoa.ca. Walk-in guests are not accepted. Residents who want to visit on or after November 13 should book a session at saunoa.ca before travelling to the site.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- NCC River House pagencc-ccn.gc.ca
- SAUN°A Ottawa pagesaunoa.ca
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