Everwild Spa Reviewed: My Honest, Unsponsored Experience at Canmore's New Spa

I spent an evening at The Everwild, Canmore’s newest spa, and came out feeling both relaxed and slightly overcooked in the best possible way. It was my first time trying an Aufguss, which turned out to be far more intense and theatrical than anything I expected. What I wanted to write here was not the polished Instagram version, but an honest first impression of what this new European inspired spa actually feels like for real people who live here.

This was not an Elevation Place hot tub soak or the novelty of Banff’s Upper Hot Springs. What they are offering is something else entirely. It is intense, ritualistic, and designed to make you sweat in a way that feels both cleansing and a little bit wild.

Most people agree sweating is good for the body. The science backs it up. Temperature regulation, better cardiovascular health, nicer skin, tension release. The list goes on.

And in this respect, Everwild delivers. A short elevator ride lowers you into what feels like a hidden passageway. You are given a quick tour, a magnetic bracelet, and a locker for your belongings. Inside each locker are fresh towels and a robe. It is up to chance whether the robe is black or green, long or short. The only things missing are a pair of Everwild branded sandals and a personal valet who anticipates your needs. One standout is the exfoliation station. It is a rain shower with on demand hot water and copper basins filled with scrubbing salts.

Cleanliness is excellent. Staff wear all black and seem to float in and out of view. Used towels and cups disappeared before anyone had a chance to notice. There were plenty of fresh towels available and a bathing suit dryer that instantly became a crowd favourite.

The location in town is interesting. It sits between a brightly lit church and a fire station, but once you are inside, it is lovely. Ha Ling to your left and Rundle to your right, with crisp mountain air that almost drowns out the roar of the highway. Just kidding. Most of us Canmore locals live close to the highway anyway.

Inside, there is a map, a variety of stations, and suggested time allotments. If you are Type A, you may plan out your soaks and steam sessions with precision. I did not. I went with friends. Sitting in a 40 degree pool, catching up on life, and letting the heat do its thing was the part we looked forward to the most. Sweat benefits the body, but togetherness benefits the soul. This is the part of sauna culture that rarely gets marketed. You cannot commodify human connection.

At various points, I was introduced to a town employee in the sauna. I ran into a coworker in a hot pool. I opened a barrel sauna and found two friends having a long overdue private conversation. These moments of quiet connection capture the communal magic of sauna culture.

The Aufguss itself deserves its own mention. A Belgian couple has been training the staff for weeks and it shows. They used snowballs infused with lavender, tea tree, and cardamom. At one point, the Aufguss master said he was going to give us “chicken skin,” which I am pretty sure was meant to be goose bumps. Either way, it felt like being a rotisserie chicken. So hot. But so good.

Phones are discouraged inside, which helps keep the vibe relaxed. There is no signal in the changing area anyway, so most people simply put their phones away and stayed present. Any photos in this article are just the standard marketing images.

And then there is the price, which is not obvious until you click through several layers of the website. A day pass is currently $185 from Monday to Thursday and $199 on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. During December, though, there is a midweek sale from Monday to Thursday that brings the price down to $155. These prices could change; I’m just saying what’s currently available. The spa also runs bundles and promotions if you pair a hotel stay with spa access.

Here is something worth celebrating. Everwild offers a locals’ discount. Canmore residents get 25% off Monday through Thursday. Based on the current pricing, that works out to roughly $139. This puts it in line with the Kananaskis Pomeroy spa, which ranges from $135 to $155 for full day access, and it is significantly lower than the $275 three hour experience at the Basin Glacial Waters Spa in Lake Louise, which also requires you to stay at the hotel. That stay currently costs $875 per night. At Everwild, you can simply walk in for spa access, no hotel needed.

Would I go again. Yes. The sweat was intense, the space was beautiful, and the conversations were the kind you only have when everyone is warm, relaxed, and unhurried. Time will tell how the vibe shifts once more international wellness tourists start booking their stays, but I genuinely enjoyed the communal side of the experience among friends and locals. Everwild is polished, but the best part was not the design, the robes, or the rituals. The best part was the human part, and that is something no marketing team can manufacture.