Elevating the Edgewood Tahoe Experience
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From the moment you walk in through the doors of Tahoe Forest Baths, the fresh smell of cedar instantly makes you forget about your problems and feel at ease. It’s more than a scent, it’s a signal to unplug, unwind and reconnect with yourself. It’s an invitation to slow down, breathe deeply and ground with intention and surrender.
Nestled on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Forest Baths offers a unique experience that feels both luxurious and deeply connected to the natural world. Inspired by traditional therapeutic Japanese traditions, Tahoe Forest Baths is one of two distinct locations in North America that offers the experience and benefits of bathing in living cedar detoxifying enzymes, taking forest bathing to the next level.
Photo at left: Step into a cedar bath for relaxation and detoxification. Photo Credit: Tahoe Forest Baths
It’s more than an experience, it’s a ritual grounded in tradition and therapy. I had the honor to test the cedar detox bath and jumped at the chance. As someone with a strong passion for wellness, longevity and recovery techniques, I am constantly searching for new experiences to incorporate into my routine. Tahoe Forest Baths seemed like the perfect fit, as it combines detoxification, healing, athletic recovery and ritual.
Below, I share my experience in the cedar baths and an interview with Manager Tim Walter, who co-owns Tahoe Forest Baths with Candice Raynor. I hope it inspires you to try it for yourself!
I really enjoyed how I could feel the warmth of the living enzymes. Photo credit: Kirsten Alexis
The Experience
Upon arrival, I was greeted by Tim and was given a tour and history of the place with unmatched enthusiasm. I was immediately impressed by Tim’s passion and knowledge for health, wellness and helping the community thrive. Before the tour, Tim shared the health benefits and storied history, tracing back to Hokkaido, Japan. Cedar baths were first introduced to the region in the 1940s as a therapeutic treatment for healing and recovery. Using all-natural ingredients including cedar, seaweed, mushrooms and various fruits and vegetables, this practice quickly garnered attention with athletes. In 1972, cedar baths were utilized by athletes in the Sapporo Winter Olympic Games and received international recognition and interest.
“Currently, there are only two cedar enzyme baths in North America, including Tahoe Forest Baths right here on the shores of South Lake,” Tim shared with a sense of pride.
After sharing the storied past of the enzyme baths, Tim gave me a tour of the spa, meticulously designed with a mindful experience in mind. The smell of the cedar baths filled the rooms, a peaceful compliment to the beautiful forest views from the windows. Tahoe Forest Baths has two enzyme baths, alongside locker rooms and a cool-down room where you can enjoy hydrating enzyme beverages and an optional oxygen bar to elevate the experience.
Before you enter the bath, you receive an enzyme drink as part of the traditional ritual. You then get into your undergarments (I used a swimsuit) as the staff prepares the cedars. The cedars are moved around for activation, and then an attendant shovels out a portion where you will lay.
After you enter, your attendant covers you in the medicinal cedars. Only your neck and head are outside the cedars, allowing for your entire body to go through the detoxification process. The cedars are warm, and you can feel the energy and life force. If you move around a bit, you can really activate the temperature to rise. I was instantly placed into a calm state of mind, where my to-do lists and thoughts disappeared for that moment. I felt present and worry-free, something I had been seeking for quite some time.
After the 20 minutes were up, it was time to shower and scrub off the cedars, great for exfoliation. After, I got to enjoy a few more mindful moments in the cool-down room with a hydrating drink and calming views. This experience really helped to calm my mind, relax by body and give me more insight into local wellness experiences and the entrepreneurs who are dedicated to helping make a mindful impact in the region.
Tahoe Forest Baths owners Tim Walter, middle, and Candice Raynor, right, immersed themselves in Japanese culture before bringing the cedar baths to Tahoe. Photo Credit: Tahoe Forest Baths
After my experience, I wanted to learn more about this wonderful place. I asked Tim a few more questions to help me understand the process, benefits and their entrepreneurial journey.
What inspired you to open a cedar enzyme bath here in Tahoe?
Candice and I were forced to evacuate Tahoe before our second date, as the Caldor Fire raged through the region. While she was in Bodega Bay, she discovered the healing powers of cedar baths at Osmosis Spa. She invited me out there for our second date, and I tried them for the first time. It took me a few times to really feel the benefits of the baths, but over time I noticed a lot of profound and positive changes and was inspired to open a business in Tahoe to share with the local community and visitors.
We decided to visit Japan to learn about the art and practice of the cedar baths from Otaka Enzymes, the original creators. We got permission and blessings to build our own versions of the baths right here in Tahoe. In return for their partnership, we decided to host them in Tahoe to initiate the fermentation and start the process of owning and operating our business.
These baths are alive, much like a sourdough starter, and they brought that here to help initiate the cedar fermentation. They trained us in the process of perfecting and maintaining the baths in our climate so we can have them be utilized and enjoyed year-round.
What is your process for maintenance?
We have a daily routine, and it takes two hours per tub to keep them 150 degrees. As they are living organisms, we must be meticulous and intentional to keep them healthy and thriving. They are alive and vibrate at a very high frequency. These enzymes metabolize in the tub, which helps to create that warm temperature that transfers to your body. It’s like a natural weighted blanket.
We have no days off and are dedicated to the process. It’s a labor of love and passion, and they require a lot of upkeep. Because they are so time-intensive and require a lot of physical labor, there aren’t many experiences like this in the United States.
Throughout the day, we are constantly monitoring the temperature and levels to keep the baths oxygen-rich. By the late afternoon we shut down the spa and take about three to four hours to prepare for the next day. We add moisture and oxygen, stoke the tubs and make sure each bath has the right balance of nutrients and enzyme catalysts so our clients get the maximum benefits in their experience.
How can one be in rhythm with the experience?
Be intentional. Treat it as a ritual, a routine. From the moment you open the door and smell the cedars, know your journey has begun. We encourage you to slow down and be mindful in every step. Enjoy the pause, the stillness.
Trust the process and be open to the surrender. Once you’re in the bath, be ready to receive at an optimal level. Let the healing process work for you and just allow yourself to completely be at peace and still. You don’t need to rush anything or overthink. You just need to be in the moment and have trust.
You truly feel the life force in the cedar baths. Photo Credit: Kirsten Alexis
What are the immediate and long-term benefits of the baths?
It’s all part of a journey. Each bath offers immediate benefits in helping you find stillness, peace and relaxation. It’s very grounding and offers an actual connection with nature. It’s great for circulation, anti-inflammatory properties, activating the dominant parasympathetic responses and spiritual healing. Long-term, it’s a great addition to your wellness routine to help recovery and reduction of stress. It’s a great reset for your nervous system.
What are your future goals with Tahoe Forest Baths?
Candice and I want to continue our growth and continue to help people be more mindful and embrace stillness in Tahoe. We want them to be inspired to connect with nature and open up spiritual awareness that they can take home.
We want to help create memories that they can have as a reference for calm, peace and serenity to use in their everyday lives. We want to help them embrace self-care practices such as mindfulness and living with intention. We want them to lean on their experience here to help ignite their journey in holistic healing.
People are searching for connection and healing, and the most important thing we can do is offer a safe space for them to do just that.
What’s favorite thing about living in Tahoe?
I love experiencing and embracing all four seasons here and all the outdoor activities Tahoe has to offer.
Find Tahoe Forest Baths
209 NV Highway 207, Suite 3E, Stateline, NV
(530) 208-8997
Find out more about Tahoe Forest Baths
About the Author Kirsten Alexis
Kirsten is an outdoor adventure enthusiast, writer and photographer. You can typically find her hiking, paddleboarding, cross-country skiing and checking out new spots to share in the Tahoe Donner region. She has been lucky to call Tahoe her second home since she was a child and aims to inspire people to experience Tahoe and fall in love with the beauty and adventurous spirit of the region through her blogs and content. 
