What Is The Altitude Of Telluride Colorado?

What Is The Altitude Of Telluride Colorado

Many travelers and skiers wonder what is the altitude of Telluride Colorado, as altitude sickness can quickly ruin your Rocky Mountain trip. We're a Colorado-based company with experience to share with you what the altitude of Telluride Colorado is and tips how to avoid Telluride altitude sickness.

What Is The Altitude Of Telluride Colorado?

Telluride is located at a high altitude of 8,750 feet above sea level. Sitting in a box canyon, the town of Telluride altitude is actually the lowest of the local area.

  • Telluride altitude - 8,750 ft (2,667 m)

Telluride is a mountain town in southwestern Colorado surrounded by San Juan National Forest, at an altitude a lot higher than Denver which is at 5,280 feet above sea level.

Telluride's isolation and beautiful mountains has led to its its reputation as one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. The town is popular with skiers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

If hiking, skiing, or climbing, the San Juan mountains throughout Telluride can get as high as 13,000 to 14,000 feet. This mountain range is known to be one of the most prominent and notched summits in Colorado and United Staes.

Altitude of nearby spots include:

  • Telluride Ski Resort altitude 8,725 ft to 12,570 ft (2,659 m to 3,831 m)
  • Ouray altitude 7792 ft (2,365 m)
  • Montrose altitude 5,807 ft (1,770 m)
  • Silverton 9,318 ft (2,840 m)
  • Ridgway 6,985 ft (2,129 m)

The altitude of Telluride Colorado is one of the highest of mountain towns throughout the state. Keep reading to learn more about the dangers of altitude sickness.

Does Telluride Give You Altitude Sickness?

Yes, Telluride can give you altitude sickness.

University Of Michigan states that altitude sickness can occur starting at 6,000 feet (1,828 m) in elevation.² Telluride sits at well over 8,000 feet, making the risk of altitude sickness very high. And being locally based, we see some visitors get altitude sickness in Denver at only 5,280 feet high.

These heights of Telluride cause a combination of physiological stress on the body including lack of oxygen, oxidative stress, and increase respiration — that can lead to altitude sickness.

It's best to be well prepared for Telluride altitude sickness and take precautions such as our tips below.

Symptoms Of Telluride Altitude Sickness

The symptoms of Telluride altitude sickness, also known as acute mountain sickness, are mainly caused by a lack of oxygen and your body's response. This can include symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and difficulty breathing.

Symptoms of Telluride Altitude Sickness may include:

  • headache
  • dizziness
  • nausea or vomiting
  • shortness of breath
  • loss of appetite
  • trouble sleeping or insomnia 
  • feeling malaise
  • weakness
  • fatigue or tiredness

Altitude sickness can usually develop within 6-24 hours of arrival in the high altitudes of Telluride. You should monitor yourself for feeling any signs of altitude sickness.

In particular, people who live at sea level and go from there to places like Colorado might experience more severe symptoms of altitude sickness because their bodies aren't used to the change in elevation.

How Do You Prevent Altitude Sickness In Telluride? 5 Tips

Telluride is one of the most beautiful mountain towns in America. It's also a place where altitude sickness can strike without warning. If you're coming to Telluride for the first time and are planning on spending some time in the mountains, you may be wondering how to prevent altitude sickness.

Altitude sickness is a common concern among people who have never been above 8,000 feet before. In fact, about one in four people who spend time at high altitudes like Telluride experience mild symptoms of altitude sickness, and up to 50% at altitudes over 10,000 feet.³

Being based in Colorado, we have a lot of experience and research on high altitudes and we'll reveal our top tips to help you prevent altitude sickness in Telluride.

5 Tips To Prevent Telluride Altitude Sickness:

1. Stay Hydrated

The body loses fluids at a faster rate when it's at higher altitudes due to increased respiration. In addition with Colorado's dry climate, dehydration is a common problem during stays in Telluride, Colorado.

Staying hydrated is key. Water is the most important thing to drink when you're at altitude. If you're not hydrating properly, your body will suffer to potential worsen altitude sickness or get headaches and dizziness — not the best way to enjoy your vacation!

Most visitors are not drinking enough water and don't even know it. Experts commonly recommend drinking at least half your body weight in water each day. You should drink even more before taking on any physical activity such as hiking and skiing.

TIP: To maximize hydration, take Zaca hydration tablets to increase water absorption and electrolytes.

 

2. Gradually Acclimate

Altitude sickness can affect anyone at any time, but it's more common in those who ascend rapidly to high altitudes. Going from sea level straight to Telluride's altitude of 8,750 feet could be a problem.

It's recommended that you spend at least on night or two at a lower elevation before going to Telluride. If possible, fly into Montrose Regional Airport at 5,759 feet or Denver International Airport at 5,430 feet and stay overnight. These altitudes will help you acclimate before going up to Telluride's drastic altitude heights.

This also applies to skiing at Telluride Ski Resort. Spend at least a day or two in Telluride to acclimate before skiing, which summits at about 12,570 feet.


3. Rest & Take It Easy

Once you've reached your Telluride destination, take it easy and rest as much as possible when you arrive. Don't overdo it on your first day at high altitude.

You want to give yourself time for your body to adjust so that it can combat the lower oxygen levels. Exercising too hard, long hikes, or strenuous outdoor activities such as skiing at higher altitudes can cause more stress on the body.

Wait to do intense physical activity after you know your show no symptoms of altitude sickness. If you feel lightheaded, tired, or dizzy at any moment, stop moving and take a break until those symptoms pass.

Sleep is also critical for the body to adjust and recover. OrthoCarolina shows that sleep help oxygen and nutrients nourish the cells via increased blood flow. To get maximum rest from sleep, 7-9 hours is recommended.

Naps are therefore great for acclimatizing the body at higher altitudes because they help restore energy levels after exertion during the day or before bedtime.


3. Limit Alcohol Initially

Alcohol does not mix well with high altitudes. The combination of dehydration and alcohol can cause serious problems if you're already suffering from altitude sickness.

Your best bet is to avoid alcohol until your body acclimates to the elevation; otherwise, you might find yourself paying for your night out with a nasty hangover, headache or worse!


5. Supplement Glutathione

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that helps your body fight oxidative stress, which can be caused by the altitude.

  • Research out of India concludes that high altitudes can deplete glutathione by up to 45%.⁵
Supplement glutathione to protect the body from free radical damage caused by high altitude exposure. Altitude supplements, while not commonly known, are one of the best ways to fuel and protect the body while at high altitudes.

To conclude out top researched tips to prevent Telluride altitude sickness  ─ this includes staying hydrated, gradually acclimating, resting and taking it easy, limiting alcohol consumption initially, and supplementing glutathione.

Colorado's Top Choice Supplement

Altitude Supplement Telluride
Zaca Chewables are a great way to replenish nutrients, hydrate, and recover faster. Made from pure ingredients, these fast-acting chewables are formulated with glutathione and other essential nutrients. With a delicious berry taste and easy on-the-go packets, Zaca makes hydrating easy. Simply take 2-4 chewables per day on your trip, or as needed. Try Zaca Chewables today and fuel your mountain adventures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOURCES:

1. Telluride Colorado Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telluride,_Colorado
2. Altitude Sickness University Of Michigan Health Service
https://uhs.umich.edu/travel-altitude-sickness
3. High-altitude illness (including mountain sickness) (Beyond the Basics)
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/high-altitude-illness-including-mountain-sickness-beyond-the-basics
4. Sleep: The Secret Ingredient of Injury Recovery
https://www.orthocarolina.com/media/sleep-the-secret-ingredient-of-injury-recovery
5. Effect of high altitude (7,620 m) exposure on glutathione
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11320641/