People travel from all over the world to witness the splendor of the glorious San Juan Mountains. The elevation in Telluride is higher than many travelers are used to, so it’s essential to learn about altitude sickness before your trip. Don’t push your limits and know the signs that your body is having difficulty adjusting to the elevation in Telluride. Keep reading this guide by Exceptional Stays to learn more about what you can do to adapt to the high elevation in Telluride.
What Is the Elevation of Telluride, CO?
The elevation of Telluride, CO, is approximately 8,750 ft. The town of Telluride is at the lowest elevation in the area, so you can only go higher from there. We recommend you book your vacation rental in Telluride because sleeping at the lowest elevation is best for combating altitude sickness. The mountains surrounding Telluride reach heights of 12,000 to 14,000 ft.
Signs To Look for of Altitude Sickness in Telluride
While staying in Telluride, you could develop altitude sickness if your body has difficulty adjusting to the high elevation. You should watch for these common signs of altitude sickness, such as nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, trouble falling asleep, vomiting, and muscle aches. Mild altitude sickness is common and usually goes away within a few minutes to a day or two if you let your body adjust and do not go any higher until it does.
If your mild symptoms don’t go away within a few days, you should seek medical care and a lower elevation. If you are experiencing severe altitude sickness symptoms, you should not wait for them to go away and seek medical care immediately. Some severe symptoms to watch for are intense common symptoms, feeling out of breath while resting, consistent cough, trouble walking, confusion, tightness and/or congestion in the chest, changes in skin color, and double vision.
Tips for Adjusting to the Telluride Altitude
- Out of all the natural remedies for altitude sickness, one of the best is to drink a lot of water. High altitude areas have low humidity, so you’ll need to drink more water than you usually do to stay hydrated.
- Try to ascend to higher elevations as slowly as possible during your Telluride trip. Anyone can get altitude sickness no matter how young, fit, and healthy they are.
- Talk to your doctor about your upcoming Telluride trip. Based on your medical history, they may prescribe you medication to help your body get used to the high elevation in Telluride. Common prescription medications to prevent altitude sickness are Diamox and Dexamethasone.
