In the Rawdon woods: two Nordic hot tubs steaming under the trees, a Finnish sauna, a lake to cold-plunge into, and a BBQ cabin to come back to. Auberge Estonia is the spa weekend that doesn’t cost spa-resort money.
The place
Auberge Estonia (Estonia Hébergement Nature) sits in the forested hills of Rawdon, in Québec’s Lanaudière region. It’s small: 8 rooms in the inn (each with a private bathroom) and a handful of mini-chalets scattered in the woods.
The Nordic spa is free for guests: two outdoor hot tubs, a Finnish dry sauna, a firepit ringed with Adirondack chairs, and a small lake for the cold plunge. It’s open from morning to late evening. Inside there’s a shared kitchen, a big living room with a wood fireplace, hammocks, and a ping-pong table.
What I did
I ran the thermal circuit on loop (hot tub, then the cold lake, then the fire), which somehow never gets old. Between rounds I walked the hiking trails on the estate (forest paths, streams, the lakeshore), then fired up the BBQ at the chalet for dinner instead of going out.
It’s a do-nothing-on-purpose kind of place: quiet, no crowds.
Recommendations
- Go for: the free Nordic spa in the forest.
- Stay in: a mini-chalet if you want privacy + a BBQ and kitchenette; pick an inn room if you’d rather use the shared kitchen and living room.
- Do the circuit right: hot tub → cold lake/plunge → rest by the fire, a few rounds. Bring sandals, a robe, and a warm layer for between rounds.
- Nearby: Dorwin Falls (Rawdon’s ~18 m / 60 ft waterfall) and La Source Bains Nordiques are both close.
- Best time: summer for lake swims and trails; winter for sauna-to-snow and a lake that can turn into an ice rink. Fall for the foliage.
- Getting there: 4333 Chemin du Lac Brennan, Rawdon, QC. About 1 hour from Montréal by car. Free outdoor parking + EV charging on site.
- Book direct: reserve ahead (it’s small and fills up on weekends); estoniahebergement.com / 450-712-6337.