**UPDATED FEBURARY 17, 2025**
Colorado is a high-elevation destination, with Denver sitting at 5,280 feet above sea level. As you venture into the mountains, the elevation climbs even higher in towns like Aspen Snowmass. At these altitudes, lower atmospheric pressure means less oxygen reaches your lungs, which can make breathing feel more difficult.
If you're traveling from sea level or a lower altitude, it's important to give yourself time to adjust. Allowing your body to acclimate can help prevent altitude sickness and ensure a more enjoyable stay.
Quick Overview
Most Aspen visitors don’t experience altitude sickness, especially with proper preparation. Severe cases are rare below 8,000 feet but more common at extreme elevations like 14,000 feet.
The most common form, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), causes headaches, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, and trouble sleeping. Symptoms typically resolve within 1-3 days.
More serious conditions include High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE). HAPE, marked by breathlessness and a frothy cough, can lead to fluid in the lungs, while HACE causes brain swelling. Both require immediate medical attention but are uncommon.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Is Aspen High Altitude? | The elevation of Aspen is 7,908 feet at the town’s center. However, if you intend on skiing, riding, or hiking any of the four mountains, be aware that some of these areas reach elevations of more than 11,000 feet! Both elevations are considered high altitudes, and visitors should prepare for their bodies to acclimate.
Can You Get Altitude Sickness in Aspen? | While most visitors don’t get altitude sickness, some travelers may not adjust as well and may experience symptoms of altitude illness.
Symptoms of Altitude Sickness | Some of the first signs of high-altitude illness are headache, lightheadedness, weakness, trouble sleeping, and an upset stomach. More severe symptoms can include difficulty breathing or confusion, though these side effects are rare and warrant medical attention.
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Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness While in Aspen
Allow yourself time to acclimate. Take it slow during your first day or two in Aspen, and do not exert too much energy when you first arrive. Listen to your body!
Drink water. Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate some more. Drink as much water as you can. Fluids will help the body adjust as altitude helps accelerate dehydration. Add electrolytes to your daily consumption, such as sports drinks (mixing with water to minimize sugar). Stay away from alcohol or caffeine. Aspen has a great public water supply, and bottled water is available at several locations around town. Plan on drinking twice the amount of water that you would at home.
Add a humidifier. The high and dry air of Aspen is a challenge. Adding a humidifier to your room will add moisture to the air, further aiding in combating the dry mountain air.
Eat well. Eat light carbs such as pasta, and avoid "heavier" foods.
Descend. If you are affected by altitude sickness, the first step is to lower your elevation. Going down in altitude of 1,000 or 2,000 feet may help the body return to normal. Remember not to ascend again until you are 100 percent better! When you do ascend, avoid increasing by more than 1,000 feet per day so your body can adjust.
Give Your Body Time to Adjust. Before you even attempt that hike or ski/snowboard day, make sure you’ve allowed at least a day of rest to acclimate. Take this time to peruse the town at the lower elevation.
Supplements. An anti-inflammatory like Aleve or Advil may help with the discomfort and headaches. Do not take sleeping pills. Ginkgo has been known to enhance circulation, which means more oxygen in your body. Studies show taking a ginkgo extract can be effective if taken one day before arrival, but is more effective if taken five days prior.
Prepare for the Sun. Another side effect of a higher altitude is a higher chance of sunburn. Because the risk of sunburn, or sunstroke, increases, be prepared with lip balm, sunscreen, sunglasses, or other forms of protection during the sunny summer days.
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How to Get that Oxygen Boost
Aspen has resources in town to help visitors reduce or alleviate symptoms of altitude sickness:
- Oxygen Now is a physician-run service that delivers oxygen to your door. They also include a portable pharmacy to help alleviate altitude sickness symptoms.
- Rescue Lounge in downtown Aspen provides IV therapy to help combat dehydration, a trigger for altitude sickness. They also offer a concierge delivery service if you want IV therapy in the comfort of your vacation home.
- Carl’s Pharmacy is Aspen’s local pharmacy for non-medical grade oxygen boosters.
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Frias Properties are Your Local Guides to Aspen Snowmass
Frias Properties offers Aspen's largest selection of centrally located vacation rentals, and we have served Aspen's guests for more than 50 years. Our Aspen-based Reservations team and concierge are happy to answer any questions about traveling to our destination.
Please email us at info@friasproperties.com or call 970-920-2010.